Local 427-721’s operating funds come from two main sources:
- Membership Dues
- Work Dues
Membership Dues
(To view the different types of Membership and rates, visit our “Join Page”)
Membership Dues allows you to access a wide range of exclusive members-only benefits, including support from the AFM Relief Fund, the AFL-CIO’s Union Plus Program, the SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union, and discounts from numerous partner vendors….. as well as:
- Contract and work under an official AFM contract (L-1, L-2, or LS-1) which guarantees that minimum scale payment is made to you and ensures that your agreed working conditions are upheld and enforced.
- Take part in negotiating collective bargaining agreements that shape your pay and working conditions
- Vote in elections for national and local union officers who represent your interests
- Have a voice in union governance, policies, and decision-making
The Local retains only a portion of your dues.
Approximately half of your dues are sent to the National AFM in New York as a “Per Capita” payment. This supports the Federation’s ongoing services and advocacy efforts on behalf of all musicians nationwide.
Work Dues
Any union musician who works under AFM agreements is responsible for paying Work Dues to the Local. These dues help fund the union’s efforts to provide collective bargaining representation and other vital services to AFM members.
Whenever you perform a union music job, a small percentage of the job’s minimum wage—usually between 3.0% and 5.0%, depending on the contract—is collected as Work Dues. These minimum wages, known as the ‘Wage Scale,’ are agreed upon between the union and the employer in collective bargaining agreements. It’s important to note that Local 427-721 contracts don’t prevent musicians from negotiating wages higher than the union’s minimum scale.
Every AFM Local, including Local 427-721, sets its own Work Dues rates. Musicians who belong to Local 427-721 but work outside our jurisdiction might receive a Work Dues bill from the Local where they were employed. Likewise, musicians who are members of another Local but work AFM jobs in our jurisdiction may receive a Work Dues bill from Local 427-721.
Fees
- Membership dues not paid thirty (30) days after the due date will have added a delinquent fee of $5.00 per month charged to that member, beginning on the first day of each month after the due date.
- If Membership dues remain unpaid more than one (1) month past the due date, the Member shall be suspended.
- Any Member suspended for non-payment of dues may be reinstated in the Local within six (6) months, upon the AFM-mandated payment of $10.00 and all outstanding dues and accumulated delinquent fees. If outstanding dues and accumulated delinquent fees are not paid by the end of the sixth (6th) month, the Member will be notified by the Secretary-Treasurer. If the Member refuses to pay their dues, the Member will be expelled.
- Any Member who has been expelled for nonpayment of annual dues must pay the full Local Initiation Fee (LIF) and current dues plus the equivalent of three months’ worth of annual dues in order to become a Member in good standing. Student and Youth Members are exempt from paying The Federation Initiation Fee (FIF) or Local Initiation Fee (LIF).
- When a Member is suspended for any reason, they shall forfeit all rights and privileges of membership until they are reinstated to good standing.
- Any Member who resigns in good standing may be restored to full membership within one year from the date of resignation by paying a $5.00 fee and the current dues.
- Work Dues are three percent (3.0%) of the wage on all engagements played in the jurisdiction of the Local, with the exception of Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) Work Dues, which are five percent (5.0%) of the wage. Work Dues are paid to the Secretary-Treasurer no later than sixty (60) days following the last date on which the services were performed.