April was a busy month for Local 802 with several ongoing negotiations and labor events.  This month we have a special election on May 20 to fill two vacant delegate positions for the upcoming AFM convention in June.

MAY 20 SPECIAL ELECTION

The union has received many questions regarding what this election is for.  Every three years,  we send a delegation of 6 representatives to the AFM convention,  where affiliates from across the United States and Canada gather to make decisions on a wide range of issues that impact all of us and to elect the next officers of the AFM and the International Executive Board (IEB).

Of the six delegates sent to the convention,  five are elected by the membership.  The sixth representative is the Local 802 President,  who has historically held “super-delegate” status and is automatically sent to the convention.

Under the Landrum-Griffin Act of 1959,  this automatic status cannot be extended to officers who were appointed to fill vacancies mid-term.  The resignation of former President Suttmann and the departure of former Recording Vice President Mars created two such vacancies and both seats must be filled by member election.  That is what our May 20 election is for.

Absentee ballots were mailed on May 4 to all members who requested them.  To ensure your absentee vote is counted,  your completed ballot must be received by the AAA by the morning of May 20.  All absentee voters are encouraged to complete and mail their ballots promptly.

If you did not request an absentee ballot,  you may vote in person on May 20 at either of the following locations:

• Local 802 office (25 W.  45th St) from 10am to 8pm
• Good-Shepherd Church (152 W.  66th St) from 12 noon to 7pm

BYLAW AMENDMENT AT JUNE 24 MEMBERSHIP MEETING

At our upcoming June 24 membership meeting,  members will vote — quorum permitting — on a bylaw amendment proposed by Financial Vice President Fisher.  The amendment would designate the Recording Vice President and Financial Vice President as “super-delegates” alongside the President,  beginning with the 104th AFM Convention in 2029.  The Executive Board unanimously reported the proposal favorably in March.

We ask that members make their best efforts to attend this meeting and keep an eye out for updates on how to attend in the coming weeks.  You can view the proposed bylaw amendment here.

802’s IMAGE & CBA ISSUES

Last week I attended the 2026 Transport Group gala and spoke with a member of one of our peer unions.  Upon introducing myself,  my seatmate said with enthusiasm,  “Oh,  Local 802 is such a strong union!” Taking the opportunity to learn more about our reputation among members of other unions,  I asked them to say more.  They went on to highlight how effective and aggressive Local 802’s member representation is when the going gets tough with management and praised our solidarity and ability to work together to win and protect strong contracts.

It can be easy to lose sight of the strengths so many before us helped make possible.  The institutional knowledge and long-forged relationships within the walls of Local 802 and among all of our ensembles are one of our greatest assets.  It’s how we won an incredible 2025 Broadway contract without any concessions,  and it’s the bedrock of how we position ourselves to push back against overreach or neglect from management.

On the topic of overreach,  the union is in the early stages of a Broadway CBA education discussion relating to attempts to circumvent the “run of show” provision in the contract.  In the coming weeks,  we will be speaking with Broadway musicians about how critical it is to aggressively safeguard this pillar of our contract from exploitation through solidarity.

As we confront novel strategies by management to create end runs around a central contract pillar like run of show,  I encourage every member to reflect on the historical strength of our contract and the protections ardently maintained by the 2025 Broadway Negotiating Committee.  Any attempt to undermine these protections represents a fundamental affront to the hard-fought contract provisions that generations of musicians before us won,  provisions that make a musician’s career on Broadway not only viable but aspirational in an inherently freelance world where any show may close next week.

PRIDE & OTHER UPDATES

The Local 802 Pride Committee is in full swing preparing our representation at this year’s Pride March on Sunday,  June 28.  We ask that you sign up for updates and to RSVP at www.local802afm.org/pride.

Local 802 has begun a candidate search to find our next Director of Field Services.  This is a central part of the union’s investment in growing our membership and better servicing musicians across the entire spectrum of contracts we administer as we work to ultimately bring more work under contract.  If you know someone who might be a good fit for this role with a commitment to protecting the rights and livelihoods of professional musicians,  please encourage them to apply here and make sure you alert our Chief of Staff Rush Perez at rperez@local802afm.org.

The 802 listening tour that began in January continued in April with in-person visits with the Part-Time Jazz Faculty at the New School,  the New York Pops,  and the New York City Ballet.  It has been energizing to hear from so many of you about your ideas regarding the future of the union.

Many union members have inquired about the status of our building project.  While we don’t have firm next steps to report currently,  Local 802 remains in active conversation with the AFM and prospective lenders as we assess the most fiscally responsible path forward for reoccupying our building at 322 W.  48th St.

Continuing our strong showing at the 3/28 “No Kings March,” this past Friday,  May 1,  our union was represented at a large May Day rally organized by the NYC-CLC,  beginning in Washington Square Park and eventually leading the labor march down to Foley Square in the early evening.

Finally,  Local 802 is proud to congratulate Carl Wilson as the newest member of the New York City Council in District 3, representing the West Village, Chelsea, Hells Kitchen, and Times Square. Before winning the special election, Carl was most recently Chief of Staff for Erik Bottcher, who previously represented CD3 before moving to the State Senate earlier this year.

As we look ahead to deepening our relationships with local elected officials, we must confront a very divisive and destructive national political climate. Divisions appear more magnified than ever, from Washington D.C. to our own backyard. Unity is more important now than ever, and together we have the means to work toward a stronger tomorrow for all musicians.