North Shore AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Leonard DiCosimo joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked about Ohio’s August Special Election and Issue 1. He also discussed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 4 with the Playhouse Square Foundation and the AFM Union’s new leadership.
As early voting in Ohio continues ahead of the August Special Election, organized labor is working to get the message out to vote no on Issue 1. DiCosimo discussed the efforts by the North Shore AFL-CIO to get the message out to registered voters. On their first action day, the organization hosted over 100 activists and reached over 3,700 local homes to educate them on the topic. He said the North Shore AFL-CIO will host its second action day on Aug. 5 at P.J. McIntyres in Kamms Corner.
Besides serving as Executive Secretary of the North Shore AFL-CIO, DiCosimo is also the President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 4. Recently, they successfully negotiated a new CBA with Playhouse Square Foundation’s new CEO, Craig Hassell. The new four-year contract will provide musicians and stagehands with a 17 percent wage increase. The CBA will allow the nation’s largest performance arts center outside of New York City to continue to operate without a labor interruption. This is something DiCosimo claimed Hassell was adamant throughout talks. So far, relations between the new management and Local 4 are going well, and this contract shows the details of this great relationship, DiCosimo added.
On the International level, the American Federation of Musicians elected new leadership during its International Convention in June. Local 802’s Tino Gagliardi was elected International President, and Dave Pomeroy, from Nashville Local 257, is the new U.S. Vice President. For the first time in the union’s history, there are three members from Canada in leadership positions, which shows the union’s international growth, DiCosimo said.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.