CFM Initiates Action Against East Coast Music Association

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ECMA in Labour Dispute with Musicians

TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM, the Canadian National office of the AFM) has entered into a labour dispute with the East Coast Music Association (ECMA), which has offices in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

For nearly 20 years, an agreement has existed between the parties to ensure musicians received at least recommended minimum fees and pension. There were also specific parameters set around what performances could be recorded for broadcast and streaming, with time and use limitations.

The ECMA is refusing to enter into a successor agreement. "Without a collective agreement in place, the musicians are not guaranteed reasonable fees. In addition, there would be no pension, and no language to prevent the ECMA from recording and exploiting the performances, anywhere and in perpetuity," said Alan Willaert, Vice-President from Canada, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. "We have come to expect a higher standard of behavior from the ECMA, and this philosophical shift is not in the best interests of the musicians or their community."

Numerous attempts have been made by the CFM to reach out to the ECMA leadership, who were finally served with a Notice to Bargain. However, the ECMA continues to stonewall. Therefore, as a last resort, the ECMA has been placed on the AFM's International Unfair List, naming them as an entity that refuses to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement for performances in association with this year's East Coast Music Week in Saint John, New Brunswick. This has the effect of prohibiting members from accepting engagements from any organization so designated.

The Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) is the Canadian National office of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM).  The CFM provides vital resources to Canadian musicians at all stages of their careers, on any platform, from live concert to recorded performance, broadcast and film scoring. The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is comprised of 200 local offices across the United States and Canada, collectively representing a membership of approximately 80,000 professional musicians across the United States and Canada. The AFM/CFM has been representing the interests of U.S. and Canadian musicians for 120 years, as the representative of professional musicians in a broad range of collective bargaining and legislative actions.  Just recently, the AFM celebrated its 100^th Convention from June 20 – 24, 2016.

For more information please visit us at www.cfmusicians.org | CFM on Twitter | CFM on Facebook.

SOURCE Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM)

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