The Executive Secretary of the North Shore AFL-CIO and president of the American Federation of Musicians Local 4 in Cleveland, Len DiCosimo, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Cleveland Orchestra’s new contract and how AFM Local 4 is helping with the Unsung Heroes of the Labor Movement Dinner this week.
The Cleveland Orchestra has a new contract after a long negotiation period. In that new contract came major wins in healthcare, wages and touring issues, among other fixes. Along with the wage increase came a one-time $5,000 bonus to offset the years the Orchestra didn’t receive a proper pay increase.
For the first time in any major symphonic labor negotiation, the Cleveland Orchestra was represented by an all-female negotiation team. DiCosimo considers this representation a significant part of the success of the new contract. He also discussed the way the string sections were leading the Orchestra through the pandemic. Due to the aerosol and health concerns, many wind instruments couldn’t perform, DiCosimo said.
AFM Local 4 will provide entertainment for the upcoming Unsung Heroes of the Labor Movement Dinner at the Great Lakes Science Museum in Cleveland. The David Young Trio will be along with Tommy Rich on drums. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 16 and will honor the Unsung Hero award winners. The winners are members of the labor movement who are vital to the movement's success and often overlooked.
To hear more from DiCosimo, please listen to the whole show above.