Klarinet Archive - Posting 000611.txt from 1996/02

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: union?
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 12:13:23 -0500

Randy,
You should DEFINITELY bring your concerns directly to the AFM's
national office in New York. Also, investigate getting help from the
National Labor Relations Board. They may be able to take action against
the Local's corrupt leadership for breach of duty or some such. Sometimes
s**t happens in a union and it is our job as union members to make sure that
our union is run correctly and in our interest, just as it is our
responsibility as citizens of the US to make sure that Congress acts in
OUR best interest. You didn't, by the way, mention which local you're
complaining about. Have you contacted other members of the local (even
those playing for less than scale) and asked if they LIKE what they are
doing and would be willing to support you in your efforts to reassert
Union standards? I'll bet lots of them are not happy about what they see
as their dereliction of principals in the service of making a living. I
know all of this is easier said than done but it seems to me that unions
are something worth making a fuss over and worth the effort to preserve.
Good luck and let me know how things are turing out.

Fred Jacobowitz (in Baltimore, Local 40-543)

On Sun, 18 Feb 1996, lou polcari wrote:

> I too believe in unions. I belong to the Musicians Union and have since the
> early 80's, although I've always lived in rural areas (mostly) and what
> I've seen may not be an accurate picture, but it has been very discouraging
> to me (as a flute player) and my husband (Lou, the clarinetist/sax). Often
> jobs come up that are below scale, in fact other union players are playing
> and saying ok to these jobs. In one city (pop. 300k) we called the
> president of the union to mention some similar problems and he only
> compounded the problem by hiring non-union musicians.
>
> Ok, maybe I'm missing the point. Maybe playing in any situation, keeping
> live music ALIVE is first and foremost, and getting paid is a nice bonus. I
> sure can't live on what I'm making. This is my trade. This is what I work
> on day and night, I love playing and I'm good at it and yet I'm being paid
> squat!
>
> Should I refuse to play unless I'm paid union scale? Does that mean I just
> won't be playing much? Is it only a problem in the smaller cities? What if
> all musicians were union, we all played for some serious cash and not a
> complimentary dinner or drink or whatever else?
>
> I would appreciate any feedback, either privately or through the list.
>
> Ruth Polcari
> polcari@-----.com
>
> ----------
> From: Randy Blackwell[SMTP:BearCat95@-----.COM]
> Sent: Sunday, February 18, 1996 8:21 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
> Subject: Re: Union/ Non-union?? Help?
>
> I am one of those people who believes in unionism. The only negatives I
> find
> are those of apathy among members and (probably because of the apathy but
> not
> entirely) a certain amount of corruption in certain unions. Let us not
> forget that Americans have a certain standard of living which was brought
> about by our fathers and grandfathers. The 8 hour day, 40 hour week,
> time-and-a-half for overtime, decent wages for an honest days work, health
> benefits, retirement plans, etc.. NONE of this was from the goodness of
> companies or their managament.
>
> I am an amateur clarinetist and wish I could play pro. I can also assure
> you
> that I would belong to my musician's union and be active in it if I did
> play
> pro.
>