Author Archives: admin

A Message from President John Acosta: Safer at Work

Musicians have suffered deeply as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Helping us get back to work while protecting your health and safety is our number one priority. Several top-level processes have launched in an effort to provide a pathway to reopening for the entertainment industries, and we are working around the clock for you. In a major step that ensures musicians will have a clear voice, I am pleased to report that I have been appointed to Los Angeles County’s new Economic Resiliency Task Force as a member of the Film and Digital Media sector. We are also working with our entertainment industry union allies to develop health and safety standards that can be used throughout California, and throughout the country. Continue reading →

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May 2020 Overture Online: Alone Together During COVID-19

Inside This Issue:

 

Working Remotely?

Now More than Ever, Union Contracts Can Help

Filing for Unemployment

What You Need to Know

Pension Reform NOW!

Tell Congress to Protect our Pensions

and more!

Download the FREE App:
  

Overture Online is optimized for reading via smartphone or tablet. For those without access to a smart device, issues may be viewed on a web browser here. Local 47 members may download archived pdf versions from the members section at afm47.org.

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Notice From the Executive Board: Weekly Board Meetings Update

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Local 47 Executive Board has had to change the way it conducts its weekly meetings by transitioning from in-person meetings to holding them via video conference. Due to challenges in ensuring that only members would have access to these meetings, the Executive Board has determined that we are unable at this time to provide video access for members to observe meetings digitally. Any members with specific questions or issues are invited to contact the Secretary’s Office in order to be placed on the agenda. Additionally, Executive Board minutes are accessible to all members in the secure members-only section of our website at afm47.org.

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Musical Artists Call for Economic Justice in the Digital Domain

At market closing on April 10, 2020, while tens of thousands of musicians and DJs across the country tried to access unemployment benefits, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Larry Page of Google/Youtube had earned $6.2 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively, for the week, according to Forbes. On that same day, the Music Workers Alliance launched an emergency petition directed to Facebook, Google and YouTube asking for relief and justice. 

Continue reading →

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A Message to the Working Professionals in the Entertainment Industry

The undersigned guilds and unions represent the diverse, professional workforce that, in ordinary times, come together on productions throughout each year to bring our stories to life for audiences across the globe. Now, in this time when the coronavirus pandemic has brought an unprecedented challenge to our industry, our solidarity is more important than ever before. We come together on behalf of our respective memberships to ensure coordination between our efforts to secure relief, financial support and other critical assistance for the working professionals in this industry. Our members understand the unique power of collective action. Through our unity, we reinforce that power to safeguard our members as much as possible during the extraordinary set of events we face today. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Pat Longo

Life Member. Alto/Tenor Saxophone
9/11/1929 – 3/26/2020

Big band leader and alto sax great Pat Longo died on March 26, 2020 of the coronavirus. He was 90 years old. Pat was a first rate musician who lived a long life and made a lot of great music. Among the highlights of his career, Pat was lead alto on the Harry James Band. With Harry’s blessing, Pat founded and directed the Pat Longo Super Big Band and the Pat Longo Hollywood Big Band, performing and recording with L.A.’s best. Continue reading →

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Now More Than Ever, Union Contracts Can Help

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought our industry to a complete halt, and even as we are socially isolated from one another, we are suffering together both economically and artistically.

But we are a diverse union. Our members include musicians who compose, prepare and perform music in an incredibly wide variety of fields, from theater and club work, symphonic, opera and ballet, film, television, sound recordings and other recording work — if it involves music, at least some of us are doing it as part of our livelihoods Continue reading →

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General Membership Meeting: April 27, 2020

Based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the California Governor’s Office prohibiting group gatherings during the COVID-19 crisis, we will be holding our next General Membership Meeting on April 27, 2020, electronically via Zoom. Open to all members in good standing.  

All Local 47 members will be receiving an email alert inviting you to register for the meeting. Registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a unique link and information about joining the Zoom Membership Meeting. (If you are a member who did not receive an email, send a message to: press@afm47.org) 

On the Agenda (subject to change):
– Nominations for Election Board and Salary Review Board*
– Officer Reports
– Old and New Business

* Nominations will be open for the Election Board and the Salary Review board during the meeting. Per the decision of the Local 47 Election Board, nominations will be accepted at the meeting, and should more candidates than positions available be nominated, an electronic election will be held via Election Buddy.

UPDATE: A special election to fill a vacancy for Trustee on the Executive Board, currently held temporarily by Lydia Reinebach as appointed by the Board, will take place at our July 27 General Membership Meeting.

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