The musicians’ union and representatives of the North American record industry are negotiating a contract that dates from 1986 and expired yesterday. The contract governs payments to the union on commercial recordings, from opera to rock.
At issue are not only such typical negotiating points as rates paid to musicians for recording sessions and health and welfare payments, but the future of two special funds as well.
Both sides have agreed to negotiate through tomorrow. The union, the American Federation of Musicians, which represents 185,000 musicians in the United States and Canada, has warned that it may call a strike or a recording ban if the dispute over the two funds is not settled.
No Strike Since 1948
There has not been a strike against the record business since 1948. An alternative to a strike, sources at the union said, might be a temporary extension of the current agreement. That course was taken during negotiations in 1986.
The principal battle is over the existence of the Musicians Performance Trust Funds New York Times
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A contract that dates from the year 186 really should be looked at. So much has changed!
Editor: Thanks for pointing this out!
that horse has long since left the barn….if they think that they will have any effect by dealing with a recording industry that itself is becoming less and less relevant. that business plan is on the decline. 185,000 north american members? that’s about the size of humber’s 2010 graduating class. and as long as there are musicians who will happily play for less than scale, or free, or pay to play, the AFofM is no longer the force it was in 1948, or 1980 for that matter….a more draconian approach that controls access to all music, especially at a grass roots level, that all the participants buy into, is the only way for the af of m to regain it’s relevance….negotiate with humber; make union membership a diploma requisite….negotiate with socan and enforce access to all music at the club level…..no union affiliation = silence and blacklist long and hard!