President’s Message, Winter 2021-2022 Newsletter
Aloha!
I know this has been a challenging year, but I hope you all have fared well.
We thank all of you for your continued participation in our union! As a positive, work for musicians has begun to ramp up as symphony concerts, theater shows, corporate/convention events, and free-lance gigs have begun a gradual return to normal levels. However, some employers have been using COVID-19 as an excuse to diminish musicians’ rights. Please be engaged, stay strong, and stand together!
This coming year, we will lead collective bargaining with at least two employers. Both Diamond Head Theatre and Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra collective bargaining agreements expire next summer.
The HSO musicians have already formed a committee to lead negotiations with the HSO. Hopefully, the DHT musicians will form a similar group soon. I believe that the musicians who work those jobs, the members of each bargaining unit, should be engaged in, and lead these negotiations. The bargaining unit musicians have the best idea of what they want — and need to be a collective voice in improving their situations. MAH will be involved in all meetings and make sure the musicians’ rights are protected while bargaining.
I encourage those of you in either bargaining unit to get involved in the process and help your fellow musicians strive to improve your pay and working environment. Again, stand together and be engaged! There is strength in numbers.
Straight ahead and strive for tone…
Regards,
Jim
From the Winter 2021-2022 issue, Ke Ola O Na Mele