The Union: How It Works

We are strongest with your input and active participation.

The Boston Musicians’ Association (BMA) holds regular member meetings in January and October. In these meetings, officers give reports and discuss issues that have arisen in the preceding months. A quorom of 25 members is required to make any decisions.

In April, the BMA holds the Annual Wage Scale and Bylaw meeting (see sidebar for schedule). In this crucial meeting, members meet and vote on wage scales, work dues and changes to the union’s bylaws. It is not an overstatement to say that many of the conditions Boston area musicians work under are determined at this meeting. Members decide upon the rates at which different work is paid, the union dues owed on that work, membership fees, and the procedures for running the union.

Local 9-535 Board

Setting day-to-day policy for the union, the Board of Director consists of the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and a six person Executive Committee. The officers, board and AFM delgates are elected in December every third year.

President: Pat Hollenbeck

Vice President: Robert Couture

Secretary-Treasurer: Mark Pinto

Executive Committee

• Bob Bowlby
• Robert Couture
• Tony D’Amico
• Tom Ferrante
• Howard Garniss

• Sandra Kott

American Federation of Musicians

The BMA is Local 9-535 of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), which represents professional musicians of types in the United States and Canada. BMA members elect delegates to go to the AFM Convention every two years and determine the policies and representatives for the AFM. Visit the AFM website for more information on how the AFM is organized.