[Dixielandjazz] Another Musician's Union Horror Story

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

That must have been when they went from the traveling musician tax of 10% to 
the current work dues.   I think they called it a tax back then.   I was a 
traveling musician in the late 50's early 60's and had to pay that ten 
percent plus another ten to the agent.  That was to discourage musicians 
from playing outside their jurisdiction.  For four years I hardly ever 
played in my home local of Murfreesboro Illinois so I always got to pay the 
tax.  Musicians didn't pay work dues then.  When they removed the traveling 
fee they started the work dues.  I don't remember when that happened - I 
think it was about 62 or 63.  Anyone know?
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 11:13 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Another Musician's Union Horror Story


> Dave asks, "Have you ever attended meetings, etc?"
>
> When our local first began to charge a work dues (I called it a tax), I 
> was
> dead set against it.
>
> I attended meetings and ran for the Board of directors.
>
> When it came time to vote, I only voted for myself for the Board.
>
> After they counted the votes, it was announced that 161 members had voted.
> One of the guys already on the Board got all 161 votes.
>
> I did not vote for him & I know for a fact that a friend of mine also did
> not.  Gee, I wonder how that happened???
>
> The president of our local had a complete strangle hold on the Union.
>
> Out of all of the members who belonged, only 10% of us were making our
> living at music.  Thus when a vote came up to benefit the working 
> musician,
> it got voted down because the other 90% would come out & vote against us.
>
> The unions did it to themselves.
>
> --Bob Ringwald K6YBV
> 916/806-9551
> www.ringwald.com
> --
> Leader, The Fulton Street Jazz Band
> www.fultonstreetjazz.com
> --
> The Boondockers (jazz and Comedy)
> www.theboondockers.com
>
>>From "Hollywood Squares"
> Q. Do female frogs croak?
> A. Paul Lynde: "If you hold their little heads under water long enough."
>
>
>
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