Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFM Fights for Its Members at the Met

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Since the Metropolitan Opera closed its doors in March 2020, dozens of members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) who perform in the orchestra pit have been out of work. And as negotiations with management continued over the past few months, the AFM is fighting and speaking out publicly on behalf of its members. “The Met has a simple decision to make,” said Adam Krauthamer, the president of AFM Local 802. “Do they want to continue to have a world-class orchestra? If so, they will need to invest accordingly.” The Met has proposed a massive 20% across-the-board pay cut for many of its workers, including the orchestra performers.