Welcome to our web site. It is hoped that the information contained in the following pages will be of interest and possibly benefit you in some fashion.
The International Guild of Symphony, Opera and Ballet Musicians (the GUILD) is an independent labor union recognized by the United States Department of Labor and represents "instrumental musician-employees and music librarian-employees who perform services under the provisions of collective bargaining agreements for Not-For-Profit organizations that operate symphony, opera and/or ballet orchestras".
We (or our chapters) represent the musicians in the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Opera Orchestra, the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra (Seattle) and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra (Seattle). The Tucson Symphony Orchestra (Arizona) is the first orchestra outside of the immediate Seattle area to join the GUILD. We have been involved in five National Labor Relations Board supervised representation elections. In a majority of these elections the GUILD prevailed with more than a two to one plurality.
We hope that you find this site informative and easy to navigate. Just follow the links to find out more information about the Guild.
THE TUCSON SYMPHONY VOTES OVERWHELMINGLY on JULY 21, 1999 TO JOIN THE GUILD: Press release
Contact and learn more about our Officers.
Examine the Guild By-Laws, as drafted by Sam Denov.
Read a brief history of the Guild as it pertains to the Seattle Symphony.
A more detailed History of the Guild by Terry Grove.
Why the Seattle Symphony chose to leave the AFM: An article from the Seattle Weekly, Seceding from the the Union.
* Updated Apr 30, 2003 *
Employment under a union contract without being a union member: It's your legal right.
How to become a financial core non-member: Instructions and form letter.
Additional options in the State of Washington under Initiative 134, passed overwhelmingly by voters in 1992.
The AFM Notice on Union Security: What Does It Mean to AFM Members?, an article by Sam Denov, Chicago Symphony percussion, emeritus.
"27 Exit AFTRA": Reasons for going financial core,
from another perspective.Recent court rulings on rights of non-union employees covered by union contracts.
A bill of rights for union members: I-702. Reprinted with permission from The Stranger, this is an article about how entrenched Big Labor interests prevent grassroots efforts for reform.
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra considers the Guild: An orchestra in revolt against its union.
The Guild Forum newsletter.
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