American Federation of Musicians (AFM) union bosses have a troubled history of intimidating nonmember musicians. Now the Foundation is suing several local affiliates in California to prevent future instances of union discrimination. Here's an excerpt from our latest press release:

Today, National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys filed a lawsuit in federal court against the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Locals 7, 47, and 581 unions on behalf of seven nonmember musicians whose careers were seriously damaged by union militants.

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the suit alleges that union officials conspired to blacklist musicians in retaliation for resigning from formal union membership. Union officials are accused of violating their “duty of fair representation” by refusing nonmember musicians access to a rehearsal hall, hindering their efforts to find employment, and enshrining certain discriminatory policies in contracts with several local symphonies.

Read the whole thing here. You can also check out the Foundation's video on union intimidation and the entertainment industry here.

National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix details the Foundation's efforts to help Sai Ly Acosta and other musicians in Hollywood after union officials indicated they would be arrested for showing up for rehearsal.

Film score violinist Sai-Ly Acosta and her fellow musicians fought back last week against an ugly campaign of union intimidation.

After Sai-Ly filed federal charges with help from National Right to Work attorneys, union officials immediately backed off from their threats to have dissenting musicians arrested and the musicians were allowed to rehearse with the orchestra for the time being.

However, other eyewitnesses said that union operatives posted signs throughout the building that read “Full Members Only,” and union operatives have harassed and intimidated the dissenting musicians, calling them “scabs.”

One musician even held there were so many of the signs posted in the building that she was surprised that there wasn’t a separate bathroom for those who exercised their Beck rights.