We got a call today from Leslie Cooper of New Orleans. Her group, the New Orleans Women in Music, formed as a result of Hurricane Katrina to help women in the New Orleans area recover from losses due to the hurricane.

They are now trying to locate any women musicians who suffered losses as a result of the Joplin tornado last spring. If you are one, or know of one, please call the MASL office at 314-781-6612. We’ll pass your information on to the New Orleans local of the AFM.

Thanks!

TO ALL AFM MEMBERS:

Below is a message from Bruce Ridge, ICSOM Chair regarding the Louisville Orchestra management’s attempt to replace the current musicians of the Louisville Orchestra.   This action by the Louisville Orchestra is deplorable.  Please let your students know that they should not even consider auditioning for this orchestra as it undercuts the AFM musicians who currently hold these positions.  This is a teachable moment for educating your students about union values.  Please take this opportunity to do so.

In solidarity,

Jay Blumenthal, Director
Symphonic Services Division
American Federation of Musicians

__________________________________________________________

TO: the musicians of ICSOM, ROPA, and OCSM

FROM: Bruce Ridge, ICSOM Chairman

SUBJECT: URGENT- DO NOT ACCEPT WORK FROM THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA, INC.

Dear friends and colleagues,

SPREAD THE WORD:

As we all know, the musicians of the Louisville Orchestra have been engaged in a lengthy negotiation with their management. They have repeatedly been threatened by their board with being replaced by other musicians. And now, after a final ultimatum, the Louisville Orchestra, Inc. has begun recruiting replacement musicians.

DO NOT ACCEPT WORK FROM THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA, INC.

Both the Louisville Orchestra, Inc. and the Kentucky Opera have been placed on the American Federation of Musicians’ (AFM) International Unfair List, and accepting work from these two groups could generate fines and penalties.

But it is not just the Unfair List that should deter anyone from accepting this work–the fact is that it would simply be wrong to do so.

Any musician accepting such work would not be serving the cause of art in America, or serving their career and family. Musicians accepting work as replacements would be taking food out of the mouths of fellow musicians, as well as depriving them and their children of health insurance.

The members of ICSOM, ROPA, and OCSM comprise a great number of orchestral musicians in North America, and we have thousands of students. Please educate your students, and the leaders at your music schools, of the importance of this effort. If the egregious and despicable actions of Louisville Orchestra CEO Rob Birman, and Board Chair Chuck Maisch were to succeed, then no orchestra in North America would be safe from such attacks. Any musician accepting such work would be building a career on quick sand.

Please post this message in your studios, and please send it to your students everywhere, as well as the colleagues in your orchestra who might not be subscribed to the ICSOM, ROPA, or OCSM news lists. Post it backstage at work. Post it on your Facebook pages. Spread the message everywhere that the musicians of ICSOM, ROPA, and OCSM will always stand together

The symphonic musicians of North America perform as a united network of friends. It is crucial that we stand together on this issue, not only for the musicians of Louisville, but for the future of musicians everywhere.

In solidarity,
Bruce Ridge
ICSOM Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2011

AFM Places Louisville Orchestra on Unfair List

The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has placed the Louisville Orchestra on its “Unfair List,” following the orchestra’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy without a collective bargaining agreement. At an August 15 court hearing, Judge David Stosberg approved the orchestra’s reorganization plan, effectively bringing it out of bankruptcy. The AFM had opposed the plan, citing the fact that it is not viable without employed musicians.

Louisville Orchestra musicians had rejected management’s last contract offer, which was presented as an ultimatum. The offer would have employed some musicians for 30 weeks per year, while employing others for only 10 or 20 weeks per year. Since proposing the tiered arrangement, management has been unwilling to negotiate.

Following the August 15 hearing, Louisville Orchestra Executive Director Robert Birman stated that the orchestra would work toward a contract with its current musicians, who are AFM members, but that it may also pursue agreements with non-AFM musicians.

“The Louisville Orchestra’s management is mistaken to believe that a pick-up ensemble would be a satisfactory replacement for the world-class symphony orchestra that patrons have come to expect in Louisville,” says AFM President Ray Hair. “The AFM will continue to fight on behalf of its members to keep the orchestra intact and to secure a fair contract.”

AFM members who render musical services for employers placed on the “Unfair List” are subject to penalty under AFM bylaws.

Contact: Honore Stockley
(315) 422-4488 ext. 104
honore@bentley-hall.com

For more information, visit the Web site at www.afm.org.

A new agreement has been reached with the Peabody Opera House.  The agreement covers all local musicians who provide musical accompaniment for acts and artists performing at the Peabody Opera House. It covers the time period from September 1, 2011 thru August 31, 2014.  If you would like further information on this agreement please call the office at 314.781.6612.  We are very pleased to have the Peabody Opera House as a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with Local 2-197.

Time Out will donation 50% of all of the profits to the MASL Bequest Fund to help fellow union musicians.

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