NYC Musicians Union Local 802 AFM Endorses Justin Brannan for New York City Council in District 43
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Contact:
Christopher Carroll / Local 802, AFM
Maya Kremen / Geto & de Milly, Inc.
(212) 686-4551 / mkremen@getodemilly.com
NYC MUSICIANS UNION LOCAL 802 AFM ENDORSES JUSTIN BRANNAN FOR NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL IN DISTRICT 43
Brannan will draw upon experience as a musician as he works with Local 802 to help ensure musicians and performers are treated fairly at venues, institutions, events and festivals in his district and citywide
NEW YORK, NY—Thursday, June 1, 2017—The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM today announced the endorsement of Justin Brannan for New York City Council in District 43.
Citing Mr. Brannan’s experience as a touring musician, his track record as a labor advocate, small business owner and community leader, and his pledge to support fair treatment of musicians by all publicly-supported arts institutions, venues, events and festivals, the Local 802 Executive Board voted unanimously to support his candidacy for New York City Council.
“It isn’t often that we have an opportunity to support a candidate who has toured the country and the world as a working musician, and I’m thrilled that we have that opportunity with Justin Brannan,” said Tino Gagliardi, President, Local 802. “Justin fundamentally understands the challenges musicians face, including worker misclassification, intellectual property theft, exploitation and unfair and demeaning wage expectations. The musicians of Local 802 are proud to endorse him, and look forward to seeing him use the skills of a good performer – creativity, discipline and empathy – to fight for hard-working musicians and all New Yorkers.”
“Music has played a profound role in my life, and musicians play a profound role in our city as drivers of our vibrant cultural and tourism economy,” said Justin Brannan. “We must ensure that the hard-working musicians who make New York a global cultural capital are treated fairly and are able to continue make a living here as artists and live performers. As a musician, I’m enormously proud to have the support of Local 802, and I pledge to work with the musicians’ union to prevent exploitation and ensure that musicians are treated fairly at venues throughout our city, including those that receive public funding. My time touring the country as a guitarist helped me to understand the challenges musicians face, and we must work together to ensure that musicians and artists can remain in New York.”
Pledging to work alongside the union to advocate for policies that support musicians and grow the cultural economy, Mr. Brannan has committed to support the union’s efforts to ensure that musicians are paid fair wages and receive fair treatment at City-supported venues and festivals. Drawing upon his extensive experience touring the country and internationally as a guitarist, Mr. Brannan understands the need to address the challenges countless musicians face in order to make a living, as well as the urgent need to expand the city’s stock of rehearsal, performance, recording and affordable residential space so that artists and musicians who are the backbone of our City’s cultural life can continue to live and raise families in New York.
About the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, AFM
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. Its 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.
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