Posts tagged American Federation of Musicians

    Op-ed

    Opinion: Why I put my job in the Allentown Symphony on the line to not pay union dues

    May 20, 2022 // The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that public-sector employees can’t be forced to pay a union as a condition of employment. I’m relying on that precedent, and representation from the Fairness Center, a nonprofit law firm, to defend my rights against those who would misuse their power and deny them.

    Allentown Symphony Allentown Symphony Orchestra American Federation of Musicians American Federation of Musicians Local 45 condition of employment Covid dues Fairness Center First Amendment right free association free speech free speech and association Glen Wilkofsky Local 45 Opensecrets.org Pennsylvania public-sector labor law political speech public employer Supreme Court Union

    News Article ● Unionization Unions

    ‘It’s About Defending My Rights’: Musician Who Refused Union Membership Sues Gov’t-Funded Orchestra

    April 21, 2022 // The American Federation of Musicians, which represents the orchestra's local union, has spent more than $259,000 on federal candidates since 2016—roughly 98 percent of which went to Democrats.

    Allentown Symphony Association American Federation of Musicians American Federation of Musicians Local 45 Case 5:22-cv-01424 dues federal governments First amendment First Amendment violation Glen Wilkofsky government-funded Janus v. AFSCME Local 45 local governments membership musician Musicians opt in opt-out orchestra orchestra's local union Patrick Hauf Pennsylvania Pennsylvania law Pennsylvania orchestra public employer public entity public-sector employees right-to-work laws state governments Supreme Court Symphony musician term of employment timpanist U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Washington Free Beacon

    News Article ● Labor Unionization

    In a case that could be destined for the Supreme Court, Allentown Symphony musician says he shouldn’t have to pay union dues to perform

    April 15, 2022 // “Our client’s goal is to make sure that Janus is expanded to all of the bargaining units that are covered by the Supreme Court decision,” said Nathan McGrath, president of The Fairness Center, a public interest legal group that represents those who object to mandatory public-sector union membership.

    Al Jacobsen Allentown Allentown Symphony Orchestra American Federation of Musicians arts organizations that receive public funding collective bargaining collective bargaining agreements condition of employment COVID Relief David Deratzian dues Fairness Center federal governments First amendment First Amendment rights Glen Wilkofsky government workers Janus Janus v. AFSCME Labor Law legal process to expel local governments membership Miller Symphony Hall municipal and state employee unions Nathan McGrath nonprofit nonprofit organization Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act Peter Hall principal timpanist Public Employee Relations Act public employee unions public grants public school teachers public sector employee public works employees publicly funded publicly funded arts organizations state governments suing Allentown Symphony Orchestra Supreme Court suspended list Symphony Executive Director Symphony Executive Director Al Jacobsen Symphony musician U.S. District Court U.S. District Court in Allentown unable to perform violates Fourteenth Amendment rights