CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND FIELD SERVICES

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The function of this department is primarily negotiating, internal organizing and contract enforcement in the above areas of the industry. People in this department handle contract negotiations, grievances (disputes) arising from contract violations and other workplace issues. Typical grievances include failure to pay wages, wage shortages, failure by an employer to make timely health and pension benefit payments, health and safety issues, and many others.

The department represents musicians who work under more than 50 collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) in the following areas of the music industry: single engagement club dates and other single engagements; theatres; hotels; restaurants; night clubs and cabarets. The department also assists members in obtaining benefit contributions from nontraditional employers through the use of Music Services contracts.

Single Engagement Club Dates

Club dates are single engagements for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate or "society" dinner-dances, benefit and awards dinners and other one-time engagements. Thousands of contracts employing hundreds of Local 1 members are filed in this field each year. Single engagement club dates account for most of the department's work. Grievances for wage, expense and benefit shortages are filed with employers in accordance with the agreements.

Local 1 representatives are responsible for working closely with musicians in this field to insure compliance with the agreement. They make routine random visits to dozens of venues in the Greater Cincinnati area. All calls to Local 1 Representatives to report engagements or grievances are held in the strictest confidence.

Accent Music Musicians' Referral Service

The Accent Music Referral Service is administered by Bill Gemmer and is an important benefit of membership. The goal of the service is to help increase job opportunities for members and to promote Local 1 in the community. An increase in advertising in area Yellow Pages has resulted in an increase in the number of calls coming into the service.

Although most referrals are for single engagements such as weddings and other private parties, the service has successfully placed musicians in recording sessions, cruise ship jobs, and tours.

A growing data base of more than 100 musicians is maintained and all interested members are invited to sign up. The policy of the service is that all musicians obtaining jobs through a referral must be members in good standing and must file union contracts paying appropriate scale wages, health and pension benefits, and all premiums.