Category Archives: All News

Musicians Target Offshoring to Bring Jobs Back to California

AB 1300 will expand domestic film and TV music scoring by boosting state tax credit for foreign productions

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 13, 2017) — As California suffers an exodus of film and television music jobs, musicians are battling offshoring head-on with a new bill that would boost the state tax credit for foreign productions.

AB 1300, recently introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, would bring the success of the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program to musicians and the scores that are an integral part of every motion picture and TV project. Continue reading →

No Turning Back: LAANE honors female leaders at annual women’s luncheon

Representatives from AFM Local 47 and the Recording Musicians Association wore white in honor of the suffragist movement at the LAANE “No Turning Back” luncheon. From left: Organizing Coordinator Jefferson Kemper, President John Acosta, RMALA President Steve Dress, Communications Director Linda Rapka, RMALA 2nd Vice President Elizabeth Hedman, RMA International President Marc Sazer, Local 47 & RMALA Director Bill Reichenbach. (Not pictured: Local 47 Director Pam Gates.)

Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy honored SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Chief of Staff, Ana Guerrero, at the annual Women for a New Los Angeles luncheon on May 12, 2017. Continue reading →

June 2017 Overture Online: May Day LA Draws Thousands

Overture Online
June 2017

Cover Story:
Thousands Take to Streets for MAY DAY MARCH Los Angeles

Also in this issue:

AB 1300: Let’s Bring More Music-Scoring Jobs to CA!
New tax credit bill promises to lure back out-of-state and low-budget film and TV productions

Musicians Stand Up Against Poverty Wages
Instrumental Casting, Shahkar called out for exploiting non-union musicians

Next Steps for Healthy CA
Universal Healthcare bill SB 562 heads to Senate floor

and more!

The Overture Online app is available FREE @ Apple App Store & Google Play:

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

H&W: The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1988 (WHCRA) & The Newborn And Mothers Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA)

Professional Musicians, Local 47 and Employers’ Health & Welfare Fund

Reconstructive Surgery Fully Covered After Mastectomy
WOMEN’S HEALTH AND CANCER RIGHTS ACT OF 1998

The Professional Musicians Local 47 and Employers Health and Welfare Fund (“the Fund”) purchases health insurance benefits through Health Net of California and provides you with this notice as required by the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1988 (WHCRA).

In compliance with WHCRA, Health Net provides benefits for mastectomy-related services, including all stages of reconstruction and surgery to achieve symmetry between the breasts, prostheses, and for complications resulting from a mastectomy, including lymph edemas. Continue reading →

Urgent – Call your Senator TODAY to support SB 562 #HealthyCA

As early as tomorrow, the State Senate will be voting on the Healthy California Act, SB 562.

Every AFM Local in California has endorsed SB 562, which will create a Single-Payer “Medicare for All” program that includes dental, vision, reproductive, and nursing care for all Californians. Unions continue to see the increasing costs of healthcare being shifted to workers. Money saved from lower healthcare costs can go to wages.

Insurers, lobbyists, and their corporate allies in the California Senate are pressuring state senators to vote down SB 562. Don’t let this happen!

Dial 855-271-8515 to call your Senator and say: “All Californians deserve guaranteed Healthcare. I’m urging my Senator to vote to pass SB 562, the ‘Healthy California Act.'” Continue reading →

Musicians Stand Up Against Poverty Wages

Instrumental Casting, Shahkar called out for exploiting non-union musicians

Shahkar concertgoers support fair pay for musicians.

AFM Local 47 musicians leafleted the Shahkar Bineshpajooh concert outside the Dolby Theatre on May 20 for paying musicians sub-standard wages and for refusing to hire union members.

Local 47 staff also spoke with the non-union musicians at their rehearsal about joining the union and demanding a fair contract for work at major venues like the Dolby. Continue reading →

Wordless Music Charged With Unfair Labor Practice

AFM Local 47 has filed charges against Wordless Music for being in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

Within the last six months, Wordless Music has refused to produce documents related to an upcoming performance at the Theater at Ace Hotel scheduled for June 3, 2017.

The furnishing of this information is necessary to complete its obligation as a bargaining representative.

Healthy California: Help Guarantee Healthcare for All

Join us in canvassing Sen. Hertzberg’s district in a final push to get his vote

AFM Local 47 has endorsed SB 562, the Healthy California Act, will guarantee high-quality healthcare for all Californians.

But first it has to pass a vote coming this week in the State Senate. Key senators who have not committed to voting for SB 562 – like Senator Hertzberg – need to hear from constituents ASAP.

Join other Healthy California supporters along with the Democracy Project and Our Revolution Tuesday, May 30 or Wednesday, May 31 to knock on some doors and spread the Healthy California message in Senator Hertzberg’s home district! Continue reading →

Memorial for Romeo Williams

FCC Just Moved Closer to Destroying Net Neutrality

Today the FCC voted to move forward with Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to dismantle net neutrality. This means that his plan, ironically called “Restoring Internet Freedom,” will now open for public comment and is one step closer to being implemented.

Join The Nation, Free Press Action Fund, and other allies in demanding that the FCC leave net neutrality alone. Then sign up for a strategy call organized by Free Press Action Fund for Tuesday, May 23, to find out how else you can fight back. Continue reading →