Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, Endorses Mayor de Blasio
New York, NY – December 6, 2016 – The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, announced today its endorsement of Mayor de Blasio for reelection after a unanimous vote by their Executive Committee. The union, the largest local representing professional musicians in the world, joined SEIU 32BJ, the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, UNITE-HERE Local 100 and the RWDSU in their early endorsements of the Mayor’s campaign.

“Mayor de Blasio has shown time and again that he is a strong ally to the performers who drive our cultural economy and make New York City a cultural capital of the world,” said Tino Gagliardi, President, Local 802 AFM. “From standing with us during difficult negotiations at the Metropolitan Opera and expanding funding for the arts, to championing economic opportunity and affordability, the Mayor has demonstrated that he is committed to ensuring the City uses every mechanism to achieve fair pay, protections and opportunity for musicians and workers throughout the city. New York City needs strong, progressive leaders to foster an inclusive and tolerant society that provides equitable opportunity for all. We are proud to renew our support and endorse him for a second term and look forward to continuing to partner with him to strengthen our creative sector and ensure musicians and performers can always afford to live, work and raise a family in New York City.”

“From Broadway and Lincoln Center to our famed jazz clubs and late-night TV, the musicians of Local 802 are the core of New York City’s cultural community and economy,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Without them and their work, the cultural industries that make New York City a true world capital would be lost. I’m committed to helping them fight every day not just to promote fair standards for musicians, but to ensure that our cultural and artistic heritage and resources are strong for generations to come.”

The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 American Federation of Musicians represents over 7,500 highly-skilled musicians who are the backbone of the New York City’s thriving cultural and tourism economy, which brings over 58 million visitors each year. Their members—who perform on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and Radio City; on Late Night shows and in other televised bands, as well as in hotels, clubs, festivals and venues across NYC—are protected by collectively bargained agreements ensuring proper classification, fair treatment and living wage.

The musicians of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York Local 802 work to promote artistic excellence and strengthen New York City’s vibrant arts community by advocating for fair treatment and compensation of hardworking musicians and performers. Their priorities include the preservation and creation of opportunities for live musical performance, promoting recording and film scoring in NYC, increasing our children’s access to live music and high-quality music education, advancing the vital role music plays in our communities, and ensuring that the musicians essential to New York City’s economy and cultural life are able to continue to live and work here.

As New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio fights for our great city every day. He fought for universal pre-K for every four-year-old in the City. He expanded the paid sick leave law to cover thousands of more workers, and raised the minimum wage for all City employees and contractors. He continued to reduce stop and frisk and pursued reforms to bring the police and community closer together — while at the same time driving crime to record low levels. He expanded the number of affordable apartments, took on the landlord lobby and under his watch rents were frozen for two straight years. Bill de Blasio fights every day to make our city better and fairer for everyone — no matter where they live or how much money they make.

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