Organizing is the lifeblood of every union. It’s our strength, and it’s what unions were born to do: empower workers to use their collective voices to improve their jobs and their lives. Thanks to the hard work of Local 802 members over the past 100 years, almost all of the high-profile music jobs in NYC are covered by a union contract, including Broadway and the Lincoln Center orchestras, plus dozens of other full-time or freelance ensembles and gigs, as well as single engagements happening all over the city.

Organizing is something we are all involved in – from the union president to every musician in NYC. Every time we ask each other, “How’s your gig?” and listen with open ears, we’re organizing.

A recent example of successful organizing was the “Red Bull Symphonic” led by a Local 802 member last fall at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn. We were able to work collaboratively with the bandleader to cover the entire orchestra under a Local 802 single-engagement contract, meaning the musicians on this job earned union wages and benefits. This was an example of an organizing success, and we applaud the bandleader and those musicians who contacted us! The only way we can help you make a difference in your job is by hearing about it. (You can even reach us anonymously…more on that below.)

WHY ORGANIZE?
Our newer members might not know how to organize, so I’d like to offer a refresher. For those starting from scratch, you probably already figured out that the term “organize” means to unionize. (So when you “organize” a gig, it means you’re trying to win a union contract or union representation for that gig or ensemble.)

Besides the primary goal of fair wages, other benefits of making your gig union can include:

• Paid rehearsals
• Paid soundchecks
• Extra pay when your gig is recorded, streamed, posted to social media or filmed
• Extra pay for doubling on other instruments
• Extra pay if you carry or transport a heavy instrument
• Health insurance contributions
• Pension contributions
• Job security, including a hiring list in some contracts
• Protection against unfair treatment (i.e. a grievance procedure)
• Congestion toll reimbursement in some contracts
  …and much more

And if you aren’t paid correctly or aren’t treated respectfully on a union gig, you can get free representation from professional union representatives, including legal counsel. We also have contracts to cover nonprofits, fundraising concerts, parades, and more.

The bottom line is this: if you’re playing a gig that doesn’t pay the wages and benefits you deserve, you can contact me directly or reach out to us confidentially (or even anonymously) via the Local 802 hotline or #NotMe app. We have an excellent track record in helping musicians win the benefits of a union contract on their gigs. And if you’re a bandleader or contractor, we urge you to do the right thing and cover your musicians under a union contract.

WELCOME, GABRIEL!
I’m also pleased to let you know that we’ve hired a new staff member who will serve as both an organizer and an Off Broadway theatre rep. Gabriel Slidders has joined our ranks with a background in labor organizing and holds an Advanced Certificate in Labor Studies from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. Gabriel has worked as an organizer with NYSNA and took a lead part in organizing himself and his fellow campus workers while at St. John’s College in Santa Fe. We know that Gabriel will do great things here at Local 802.

SINGLE ENGAGEMENT CONTRACT
I mentioned the single engagement contract above. This agreement (technically called our Club Date/Single Engagement Contract) covers those who play weddings, private parties, corporate events, bar and bat mitzvahs, and what we call club dates. Right now, we have five signatories to this contract: Hank Lane, Kevin Osborne, Element, Alex Donner, and Peter Duchin. All of them pay their musicians union wages and benefits, as per our scale.

We’re starting the process right now of negotiating the updated terms and conditions for this contract. We need to hear from musicians in this field about their priorities, and we’re also inviting you to join the bargaining team. Please reach out to Principal Business Rep Pete Voccola if you’re interested. Members can download our current single engagement scale in the Local 802 membership portal. Log in, then click on MEMBER DOCS, then scroll to the very bottom of the page to find the contract.

RALLY FOR A FAIR CONTRACT
Local 802 rallied with the AFM in Times Square on March 11, demanding a fair contract for recording musicians and no A.I. theft. Top union officials and political leaders raised their voices in support, and Local 802 musicians of Five Borough Brass performed live music with a union contract. For details, see Mikael Elsila’s story in this issue.

UNION SOLIDARITY
The Tucson musicians’ union (AFM Local 33) recently contacted us with a solidarity alert. A Tucson ensemble called True Concord Voices & Orchestra is apparently bypassing its local orchestra and is instead reaching out to musicians who play historical instruments from around the country to fly them into Tucson for a February 2027 production of St. Matthew Passion. The union has filed a petition with the NLRB. If you get approached by True Concord to play in Tucson, please contact my office at rperez@local802afm.org, and please sign the musicians’ petition at: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/true-concord-recognize-our-union

LIVE MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WHEN IT’S UNION
We were thrilled to see live strings on stage when Harry Styles performed on Saturday Night Live on March 14. Those string players were covered under an AFM union contract – as is the SNL band, of course. It’s great when live acoustic music is used as part of a set!

JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH
April is recognized across the United States as Jazz Appreciation Month, a nationwide celebration of the history, artistry, and ongoing influence of jazz. It was formally designated in 2001 by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution to honor jazz’s vital role in American culture and to encourage performances, education programs, and community events each spring. To celebrate, we’re pleased to include an interview with Local 802 member and jazz harpist Brandee Younger in this issue.

OUR COMMS ARE STRONG
Finally, I am very happy to report that Local 802’s Instagram account recently earned its first badge for surpassing 8,000 followers. We’ve now earned more followers than any other AFM local – or the AFM itself. Our comms have been strong and reaching more people, and we encourage you to follow all of Local 802’s social media accounts. Feel free to tag us!