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International
Federation of Musicians
John SMITH
President
Benoît Machuel
General Secretary
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FIM
Calls for Support of Blue Man Group Boycott in Canada
Paris
1 April 2005.
The International Federation or Musicians (FIM), founded 1948,
is the only international organisation representing unions
of musicians worldwide. Counting members In over 70 countries,
FIM speaks for hundreds of thousands of musicians around the
world and is recognised by major international bodies such
as UNESCO, WIPO, the ILO, the European Commission or the Council
of Europe.
FIM and
its members have been struggling for years in order to enable
musicians to make a decent living from their trade. The social
dialogue, everywhere it has been developed and implemented,
has proved to be the best instrument to provide fair and equitable
contracts to performers. The union standards that have been
established and accepted in Canada to the benefit of stage
and live music workers represent the only framework that can
provide a satisfactory professional environment as well as
a healthy basis for cultural life.
By refusing
to negotiate contracts specifying base pay, benefits and defined
working conditions, Blue Man Group is depriving professional
artists and technicians working In live theatre from having
a fair working contract, and is undercutting legitimate producers,
which provide Toronto with top quality shows that draw audiences
from near and far.
The International
Federation of Musician, firmly condemns Blue Man Group's policy
and expresses its total support to the Toronto Musicians Association
(local 149 of the American Federation of Musicians, member
of FIM) as well as to its sister unions from Canadian Equity
Association and lATSE in all actions found necessary In order
to reach a satisfactory agreement.
We declare
ourselves in total solidarity with all local Canadian performers
and craftspeople and urge all our affiliates to encourage
their members not to take part in any Blue Man Group's production
until it abides by professional area labour standards.
John
SMITH, President |
Benoît Machuel, General Secretary |
FIM
- International Federation of Musicians
21 bis, rue Victor Massé F-75009 Paris
T. +33 (0) 145 263 123 / F. +33 (0) 145 263 157
office@fim-musicians.com
- www.fim-musicians.com
View/Download
a .pdf version of the original FIM
letter
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