It was a long, busy summer at Local 802, and we’re heading into another season of solidarity. I have a lot of news to report.

We hit the ground running with the Broadway negotiations and have started bargaining with the Broadway League. Our social media campaign highlighting all of the current Broadway shows was a huge success, garnering over 90,000 views. On our first day of bargaining, we were honored to have been joined by AFM International President Tino Gagliardi, Actors Equity Executive Director Al Vincent Jr., and Actors Equity Bargaining Committee Co-Chairs Jacqueline Jarrod and Anne McPherson.

A few weeks later, we stood with Equity during their bargaining kickoff rally in Times Square with the AFL-CIO, where Local 802 Recording Vice President Dan Point said, “We share a common challenge…that’s why fights like these are so vital…and why union solidarity matters so much. When workers unite, we win!” (Read Dan’s column in this issue.)

I was also honored to sit at the bargaining table in solidarity with Equity on their first day of negotiations on Aug. 25.

We’ll keep you updated on the negotiations and let you know how you can help Broadway musicians win the contract they deserve.

Separately, the MET Orchestra is also in negotiations. On a related note, I spent a week in August at the annual gathering of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM), and we discussed many important topics that are relevant to our orchestras. For more, see Karen Fisher’s report in this issue.

We also have many other negotiations in progress or coming up, including the New School, 54 Below, Winter Jazzfest, the John Engeman Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Midori and Friends and Big Apple Circus, to name just a few. We know that solidarity is our strength!

If you aren’t being paid the wages and benefits you deserve and want to learn more about unionizing your gig, you can contact us confidentially at www.local802afm.org/hotline.

BUILDING UPDATE

As promised, we’ve been keeping our members up to date with the status of the Local 802 building. We’ve posted detailed documents in our membership portal and have hosted two meetings so far.

The third meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 18 at 4pm on Zoom or in person at a location near midtown (due to capacity, only limited spots are available in person). Click here to register now.

All members in good standing are welcome. Even if you already attended our previous building meetings, you are also welcome to attend this one as well. We’ll share any new updates.

For background on the building project, see:

• Sara Cutler’s article in this of Allegro, and
• A full report on the project posted here. (Log in as a member, then click on MEMBER DOCS, then look for LOCAL 802 BUILDING INFO.)

MARCH WITH US AT THE LABOR PARADE

We urge you to show the power and strength of musicians by marching with Local 802 in the annual NYC Labor Parade. This year’s theme is Power in Unity. Gather with Local 802 at 9 am on Saturday, Sept. 6 on East 44th between Fifth and Madison. Please RSVP here.

ZOHRAN FOR MAYOR

Over the summer, we endorsed NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and earned considerable media coverage for hosting a musical press conference. You can watch a great video of Zohran’s speech and our members performing. In my statement, I said, “We are thrilled to back Zohran Mamdani for mayor because we know that he will fight for musicians and all workers. He will help musicians achieve the fair wages and contracts that they deserve, because he knows that music is what gives New York its heart and soul. As mayor, Zohran will improve our musicians’ lives in so many ways, including affordable housing, free buses, free childcare and rent freezes. We know he will support our city’s musicians, creative artists and all New Yorkers. For these reasons and much more, we are honored to support Zohran Mamdani for mayor.” In a post shortly after appearing at the joyous musical press conference on July 14, 2025, Zohran Mamdani wrote, “Art must not be a luxury for the few — and that means a city where artists can actually afford their rent, groceries, childcare and transit. AFM Local 802, the largest local union of professional musicians in the world, organizes for that city and it is an honor to earn their endorsement. Solidarity forever.”

MUSICIANS & GENERATIVE A.I.

Local 802 recently welcomed indie musicians and others for a conversation about generative A.I. on Zoom. Local 802 Recording Vice President Dan Point moderated the discussion, which featured AFM Legislative and Political Director Ben Kessler and AFM Director of Electronic Media Services John Painting speaking on how the union is engaging with relevant stakeholders and policymakers to protect our livelihoods. We also heard from AFM Freelance Services and Membership Development Director Wages Argott and AFM Field Organizer Leni Kreienberg. The union’s main responses are both legislative and on-the-ground. (More on that in the months to come.) For the moment, please read In-House Counsel Harvey Mars’ A.I. story in this issue on the most recent A.I. legal news.

PROTESTING COLBERT’S CANCELLATION

We were utterly dismayed to hear about the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which will mean — among other things — the loss of work for the dedicated musicians who have performed in Colbert’s band for years. I made the following statement on July 25, which got a lot of media attention:

“The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert without clear explanation is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the broader implications for free expression and artistic freedom.

“Live music has been an integral part of late-night shows for decades — serving as a vital platform for musicians to reach audiences, showcase their artistry, and participate in cultural dialogue. Colbert’s cancellation threatens not only the livelihoods of the world-class musicians who perform on the show, it also undermines the fundamental principles of free speech and creative expression that are cornerstone values of our industry and our nation.

“We need to be very honest about what’s happening here: the President of the United States himself has said he hopes he played a role in the decision, and has warned NBC and ABC that their late night hosts are next.

“This is why it is vital for NBC and ABC to state, loudly and clearly, that they will not allow themselves to be similarly intimidated. Now, more urgently than ever, is a time for courage, not cowardice.

“CBS’s decision is about much more than just a late night talk show. When an administration tries to silence criticism and dissent by asserting its power, we all need to take notice.

“When censorship is used as a tool to quash free speech, we must stand up together. What’s happening now is not only wrong, it goes against what we must stand for as a nation.

“Local 802 stands by our members and also in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in labor who work on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. We will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our workers.”

NEXT LOCAL 802 MEMBERSHIP MEETING & BYLAW RESOLUTIONS

Save the date: the next Local 802 membership meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 22. Details will be posted here once available. The agenda includes bylaw resolutions (click here) and a Local 802 building report.