#RespectTheBand: AFM Live TV Musicians Rally for a Fair Contract!

Local 802 AFM musicians rallied Tuesday, calling on ABC, CBS, and NBC to pay live TV musicians when their work appears on ad-supported streaming in the form of clips on YouTube and network websites. Outside negotiations at ABC headquarters, musicians brought the noise: The Polka Brothers performed lively music for the crowd, AFM Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy played an original “Respect the Band” song he composed about the campaign, and members of Stay Human, the Late Night with Stephen Colbert house band (pictured), launched into an impromptu jam session with other union musicians. Musicians and their allies from the NYC CLC, NYS AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE Local One, Actors Equity, AGMA, and Workers United SEIU chanted and heard from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and State Senator Brad Hoylman. As negotiations continue, union musicians are asking allies to sign this petition and tweet at @ABCNetwork @CBS and @NBC to #RespectTheBand! (Photo by Walter Karling)