The relationship between the American Federation of Musicians and its members has gone through many changes over the years. In particular, recording musicians have gone through cycles of turmoil with the AFM. |
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In 1957 a group of musicians primarily based in Los Angeles felt disenfranchised from and undermined by the AFM. They formed the Musicians Guild of America, popularly known as “the Guild.” Their struggles for democratic rights, and their desire to benefit from the fruits of their own labors, are well documented in the book “For the Record” (available to members from the RMA office for those interested in learning more about this tumultuous chapter of the AFM and L.A. Musicians). |
By 1960, L.A. members of the Guild had voted to decertify a number of AFM collective bargaining agreements. Employment contracts for films, TV and other recording areas started to be filed through the Musicians Guild. The business model of employers was dynamic and changing, and the Guild members - musicians working in the field - were able to craft savvy agreements. The modern-era AFM Pension Fund and what we now call the Film Musicians' Secondary Markets Fund were the result of Guild efforts. |
By 1961 the new President of the AFM, Herman Kenin, knew that the only hope of saving the Federation was to reach out to the disenfranchised musicians and give them some real authority within their workplace. Up to that point, working musicians had not been given the right by the AFM to ratify, or vote, on contracts for their own employment. In 1961 AFM President Kenin began merger negotiatations with the Musicians Guild, which resulted in an agreement between the parties in September of that year . This agreement, popularly known as the “Dissolution Agreement,” allowed the Guild, under the supervision of the National Labor Relations Board, to cede jurisdiction over a number of contracts back to the AFM, in return for guarantees to working musicians. These promises gave LA recording musicians rights in the negotiating and administering of their contracts. The full Agreement can be found at http://www.rmala.org/pages/pub2.aspx. |
A summary of the promises made by the AFM to Los Angeles recording musicians: |
1) Ratification. The Federation reaffirmed its policy to grant to recording musicians the right to ratify all AFM recording contracts, prohibiting the AFM from creating "one-offs" against the wishes of the affected players. It was clearly seen by both the AFM and the musicians of the day that this right to have meaningful input was necessary for recording contracts to be smart, business-like, and successful. |
2) Recording Musicians Advisory Committee.A committee was to be democratically selected at regular intervals by all members working in the recording fields in the Los Angeles area. Those serving as members of the committee must be actively working in the recording field during the time of such service. The committee would have the right to communicate directly to the Federation its advice and opinions respecting all matters affecting the interests of recording musicians. It would advise and consult with the Federation respecting the formulation of bargaining demands. Additionally, representatives of the committee would serve in an advisory capacity at all Federation collective bargaining negotiations. |
3) Reuse and Residual Payments. The Federation would be required to negotiate for provisions with the"phonograph record" employers to provide residuals to record musicians, leading to the creation of what is now called the Sound Recording Special Payment Fund. Additionally the Federation reaffirmed its policy to seek residual or reuse payments for recording musicians in all other recording fields. |
4) Membership.Musicians who had been expelled from the Federation and Local #47 because of their support of the Guild or its activities,would be reinstated to membership in Local #47 and in the Federation with full, uninterrupted rights and privileges of such memberships (as though never expelled). |
The issues between the AFM and the L.A. recording community today have striking similarities to the situation faced by members in 1957. Unfortunately, the democratic guarantees provided in this historic document have been effectively abandoned by the current AFM leadership. This document should serve as a reminder of where we've been, and how a previous generation acted with courage and intelligence to resolve similar conflicts for the benefit of all. |
Knowledge is Power. Stay tuned for more knowledge! |
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