as it Pertains to the Seattle Symphony

The International Guild of Symphony, Opera and Ballet Musicians (an independent labor organization) was formed in 1985 as an alternative to the American Federation of Musicians (AFL-CIO). At the time the Guild was formed the AFM was the only organization in the United States or Canada which represented classical musicians. The reason for the formation of an alternative to the AFM was that the AFM Local 76 and the Federation were requiring dues payments in excess of $1,000 annually from 90 musicians in the Seattle Symphony. Having paid over a quarter of a million dollars during a three-year contract period to the Local, some of us thought it would be reasonable for the Local to pay for labor negotiations and to have various other required payments met by the Local which were estimated at $15,000 per year. The Local held the position that they would not fund negotiations nor would they make up any other assessments or dues to AFM conferences and strike funds.

After visits by two Federation presidents as well as numerous visits from other Federation and Local officials and after twenty some Seattle Symphony Orchestra meetings, a petition was circulated requesting the National Labor Relations Board to supervise an election. On September 15, 1988, the Guild won the election and has subsequently been responsible for the representation of classical musicians in the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Opera Orchestra, Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra. Following the election, the Seattle Symphony and Opera Players’ Organization (SSOPO) requested that the Guild cede the rights of representation to them.

The SSOPO had been in existence, in one form or another, since the mid 1940’s when the musicians formed a co-op orchestra. The co-op only lasted a few years; however, with all future meetings there was always the undercurrent of a small but efficient organization that could not be controlled by the Local nor the AFM.

Possibly the greatest benefit to the musicians in all of the Guild orchestras is that the rights of representation can be or have been ceded to each players’ organization which, once ceded, provide complete and total autonomy. The SSOPO sets its own dues structure based on a committee endorsement of a proposed budget. The SSOPO can also hold a "special" meeting with 24 hours notification and vote to amend the Labor Agreement for a specific cause. The AFM continues to try and get all classical orchestras back into the fold, but so far they have not been successful.

 

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