American Federation of Musicians. Local 802

The American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 (Associated Musicians of Greater New York) is the largest local of professional musicians in the world. As of 2011, it represents approximately 10,000 members in and around New York City. Members work in many fields of music: rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, concert, theater, club date, night club, ballroom and symphonic. They are also instrumentalists, copyists, arrangers, orchestral librarians, proofreaders, and editors. Additionally, Local ...

The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, American Federation of Musicians was chartered on August 27, 1921.

Its immediate predecessor was Local 310 of the AFM which held an independent charter from the State of New York. When Local 310 struck New York theaters against the wishes of AFM President Joseph N. Weber, the AFM set up the new Local 802. The low initiation fee of $2 as well as the Federation's invitation to musicians around the country to come to New York and play in the struck theaters spurred 12,000 musicians to join. Local 310 was forced to relinquish its charter to Local 802 which thus began its history with the reputation of being the strikebreaking "2 dollar union".

From 1921-1934 Local 802 was under AFM trusteeship. A Congressional investigation into labor racketeering in 1934 prompted President Joseph N. Weber to permit the local to elect its own officers. By 1935 Local 802 was operating autonomously and opened its Long Island office.

Members of Local 802 were employed wherever there was live musical entertainment. The union had a closed shop, oversaw all musicians' contracts and zealously brought up members on charges whenever the union rules were violated. During the 1920's and 1930's this included not only symphony and opera performance, but theater orchestras, restaurants, night clubs, hotel ballrooms, catering establishments, parades, amusement parks, funerals and radio broadcasts. Gradually the local organized members at all these workplaces. In 1928 there were 15,500 members in Local 802; by 1940 the membership had grown to 21,300. At its height in the 1950's and 1960's there were well over 30,000 members of Local 802.

During the Depression, employment in the entertainment industry was often hard to find. The artists' division of the Works Progress Administration provided some relief work for musicians. Local 802 was constantly negotiating with the agency on the use of musicians on relief versus their other out-of-work members who were seeking employment--at union scale--through the Exchange Floor, Local 802's informal hiring hall. Nevertheless, throughout the 1930's Local 802 participated in lobbying efforts to keep the WPA musicians employed, without wage cuts.

With the advent of talking pictures in the 1930's, Local 802 saw the use of recorded music in movie theaters as a threat to their membership. In 1936 a major theater organizing drive was mounted in the Broadway district with militant mass picketing of those theaters which had dispensed with live orchestras. A huge parade in November 1936 mobilized aid from many other unions as well as several AFM locals in other cities. Local 802's political stance in the late 1930's was progressive; it made substantial contribtuions to the American Labor Party, to the Negro Labor Committee, and to a number of other progressive causes.

During World War II, Local 802 was somewhat more generous to events specifically held to benefit the war effort producing "V-discs" for the armed services at no cost. However, commercial mechanized music was seen as a major threat. In June 1942, under the national leadership of James C. Petrillo, the AFM banned musical recordings by union members. Finally in November 1944, the ban was lifted and the Recording and Transcription Fund was set up, controlled by the union, into which record companies paid a fee, thus protecting musicians' livelihoods, even when their artistry contributed to mechanization.

A second record ban had to be called in 1947. Claiming that Taft-Hartley rules could prohibit union control on the fund, the record companies wanted to abrogate the Record and Transcription Fund agreement. Today the fund is administered by an industry trust as the Music Performance Trust Fund and underwrites public musical performances.

During the Taft-Hartley period, Local 802 was rocked by bitter electoral faction fighting in 1948. A group opposing the leadership of President Richard McCann was accused of Communist domination. A non-Communist affadavit was required for membership in the local and in 1949, two oppositionists were expelled from the local by the Trial Board. The membership soon overrode this decision and reinstated the two musicians.

The AFM was in litigation throughout the 1960's with the NLRB trying to settle the definitions of employer and employee in the entertainment business. Some adverse rulings made it difficult for the union to organize hotels and nightclubs. In the early 1960's the side musicians who played single club dates objected to the slowness of bargaining benefits and wage improvements and demanded speedier negotiations with board leaders who were employers. At the same time many full time professional musicians felt that the union leadership was using the part time membership to maintain control. A reform movement in Local 802 arose between 1964-1966, but was not successful in capturing any major leadership positions. Nevertheless, between 1966-1980, there were some important reforms: 802 contracts had to be ratified by membership; a credit union was established in 1967; an emergency relief fund was developed; and an active rank and file committee system was established in the by-laws.

Formal opposition to Local 802's leadership emerged in 1980, instigated by classical, club date and recording musicians. The caucus called itself the MEMBERS party-- an acronym for Make Every Musician Benefit from Efficient Responsible Service. In the 1982 election the MEMBERS party, led by John Glasel, was able to make an almost clean sweep of the Executive Board.

In 1985 there were 18,000 members of the union working in many fields of music--rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, concert, theater, club date, night club, ballroom and symphonic. Members work as instrumentalists and also as copyists, arrangers, orchestral librarians, proofreaders, and editors.

The American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 (Associated Musicians of Greater New York) is the largest local of professional musicians in the world. As of 2011, it represents approximately 10,000 members in and around New York City. Members work in many fields of music: rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, concert, theater, club date, night club, ballroom and symphonic. They are also instrumentalists, copyists, arrangers, orchestral librarians, proofreaders, and editors. Additionally, Local 802 regularly demonstrates solidarity with fellow unions (particularly other entertainment unions) and is deeply involved in lobbying for union rights.

Local 802 was chartered on August 27, 1921. Its immediate predecessor was Local 310 of the AFM which held an independent charter from the State of New York. When Local 310 struck New York theaters against the wishes of AFM President Joseph N. Weber, the AFM set up the new Local 802.

From 1921-1934 Local 802 was under AFM trusteeship. A Congressional investigation into labor racketeering in 1934 prompted President Joseph N. Weber to permit the local to elect its own officers. By 1935 Local 802 was operating autonomously and opened its Long Island office. Members of Local 802 were employed wherever there was live musical entertainment. The union had a closed shop, oversaw all musicians' contracts and zealously brought up members on charges whenever the union rules were violated. During the 1920's and 1930's this included not only symphony and opera performance, but theater orchestras, restaurants, night clubs, hotel ballrooms, catering establishments, parades, amusement parks, funerals and radio broadcasts.

In 1928 there were 15,500 members in Local 802; by 1940 the membership had grown to 21,300. At its height in the 1950's and 1960's there were well over 30,000 members of Local 802.

The AFM was in litigation throughout the 1960's with the NLRB trying to settle the definitions of employer and employee in the entertainment business. Some adverse rulings made it difficult for the union to organize hotels and nightclubs. In the early 1960's the side musicians who played single club dates objected to the slowness of bargaining benefits and wage improvements and demanded speedier negotiations with board leaders who were employers. At the same time many full time professional musicians felt that the union leadership was using the part time membership to maintain control.

A reform movement in Local 802 arose between 1964-1966, but was not successful in capturing any major leadership positions. Nevertheless, between 1966-1980, there were some important reforms: 802 contracts had to be ratified by membership; a credit union was established in 1967; an emergency relief fund was developed; and an active rank and file committee system was established in the by laws. Formal opposition to Local 802's leadership emerged in 1980, instigated by classical, club date and recording musicians. The caucus called itself the MEMBERS party, an acronym for Make Every Musician Benefit from Efficient Responsible Service. In the 1982 election the MEMBERS party, led by John Glasel, was able to make an almost clean sweep of the Executive Board.

One of the Glasel Administration’s first acts was to create a department of public relations and legislative affairs under Judy West, who served as its director from 1983-2000. At the same time, organizing campaigns targeting jazz musicians were stepped up, becoming one of the major activities of Local 802 in the following two decades. Glasel was succeeded by Bill Moriarity the Secretary of Local 802 in 1993. In 2003, David Lennon was elected unopposed, but lost the 2006 election to Mary Landolfi. Local 802 has been led by Tino Gagliardi since 2010.

In recent years, Local 802 has worked to address the impact of computers and the internet on musicians’ livelihoods. It has also been involved in attempting to solidify the precarious financial condition of its parent union.

The American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 (Associated Musicians of Greater New York) is the largest local of professional musicians in the world. As of 2011, it represents approximately 10,000 members in and around New York City. Members work in many fields of music: rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, concert, theater, club date, night club, ballroom and symphonic. They are also instrumentalists, copyists, arrangers, orchestral librarians, proofreaders, and editors. Additionally, Local 802 regularly demonstrates solidarity with fellow unions (particularly other entertainment unions) and is deeply involved in lobbying for union rights.

Local 802 was chartered on August 27, 1921. Its immediate predecessor was Local 310 of the AFM which held an independent charter from the State of New York. When Local 310 struck New York theaters against the wishes of AFM President Joseph N. Weber, the AFM set up the new Local 802.

From 1921-1934 Local 802 was under AFM trusteeship. A Congressional investigation into labor racketeering in 1934 prompted President Joseph N. Weber to permit the local to elect its own officers. By 1935 Local 802 was operating autonomously and opened its Long Island office. Members of Local 802 were employed wherever there was live musical entertainment. The union had a closed shop, oversaw all musicians' contracts and zealously brought up members on charges whenever the union rules were violated. During the 1920's and 1930's this included not only symphony and opera performance, but theater orchestras, restaurants, night clubs, hotel ballrooms, catering establishments, parades, amusement parks, funerals and radio broadcasts.

In 1928 there were 15,500 members in Local 802; by 1940 the membership had grown to 21,300. At its height in the 1950's and 1960's there were well over 30,000 members of Local 802.

The AFM was in litigation throughout the 1960's with the NLRB trying to settle the definitions of employer and employee in the entertainment business. Some adverse rulings made it difficult for the union to organize hotels and nightclubs. In the early 1960's the side musicians who played single club dates objected to the slowness of bargaining benefits and wage improvements and demanded speedier negotiations with board leaders who were employers. At the same time many full time professional musicians felt that the union leadership was using the part time membership to maintain control.

A reform movement in Local 802 arose between 1964-1966, but was not successful in capturing any major leadership positions. Nevertheless, between 1966-1980, there were some important reforms: 802 contracts had to be ratified by membership; a credit union was established in 1967; an emergency relief fund was developed; and an active rank and file committee system was established in the by laws. Formal opposition to Local 802's leadership emerged in 1980, instigated by classical, club date and recording musicians. The caucus called itself the MEMBERS party, an acronym for Make Every Musician Benefit from Efficient Responsible Service. In the 1982 election the MEMBERS party, led by John Glasel, was able to make an almost clean sweep of the Executive Board.

One of the Glasel Administration’s first acts was to create a department of public relations and legislative affairs under Judy West, who served as its director from 1983-2000. At the same time, organizing campaigns targeting jazz musicians were stepped up, becoming one of the major activities of Local 802 in the following two decades. Glasel was succeeded by Bill Moriarity the Secretary of Local 802 in 1993. In 2003, David Lennon was elected unopposed, but lost the 2006 election to Mary Landolfi. Local 802 has been led by Tino Gagliardi since 2010.

In recent years, Local 802 has worked to address the impact of computers and the internet on musicians’ livelihoods. It has also been involved in attempting to solidify the precarious financial condition of its parent union.