A Historic Relic Honoring the Brave Musicians of the Titanic Returns to Local 802
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n NEWS & VIEWS THE PLAQUE IS BACK! A historic relic honoring the brave musicians of the Titanic returns to Local 802 What was lost has been found. In 2010, Allegro published an article about a historic plaque commemorating the musicians who died on the Titanic. This plaque used to hang in Local 802’s former headquarters at Roseland Ballroom but was lost when we moved in 1982. Through a fantastic series of events, a law enforcement officer found this plaque (and another that we used to own) in a scrapyard in Florida. This officer, a man named Douglas Turner, read our Allegro article online and learned about the value of the plaques he had recovered. Local 802 attorney Harvey Mars eventually made contact with Mr. Turner and purchased both plaques. Harvey has donated them back to Local 802 and both are now hanging in the Local 802 lobby. You can read our original story at www.Local802afm.org (search for “Titanic”). Below, Harvey tells us the remarkable story of this tribute to the musicians of the Titanic. English country home or a gentleman’s club in London. It also had eight of the LEGAL most accomplished freelance musicians known at the time. corner Performing on a ship such as the Ti- HARVEY MARS, tanic was an extremely rigorous task. ESQ. Just for starters, the band was expected to play both during lunchtime and in Harvey Mars is counsel to Local restaurants at night. Musicians were 802. Legal questions from members also expected to perform for church are welcome. E-mail them to services and special events. They re- HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney. hearsed every single day. The shipping com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles line owner, White Star Line, maintained a music book that included 341 num- in this series are archived at www. bered pieces that the bandsman were HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on expected to master – and new selections “Publications & Articles” from the top were added constantly. Passengers were menu.) Nothing here or in previous given a copy and could request any tune articles should be construed as formal in the book. The band was expected to Local 802 attorney Harvey Mars with the Titanic plaque. A close-up of the plaque is on legal advice given in the context of an play it perfectly. the next page. Mars purchased this plaque (and another) and donated both to the union. attorney-client relationship. The bandsmen were hired through a contractor, C.W. & F.N. Black. Pre- cians’ earnings by almost 40 percent a lifeboat or attempted to survive in the viously, musicians had been hired di- and eliminated the uniform allowance. water. But, as everyone knows, the band HE TItanIC was built in 1912 to rectly by the shipping lines. The Black (This kind of thing sounds familiar, heroically chose to remain on board and accommodate 2,500 passengers brothers, however, were able to nego- doesn’t it?) continued to play. and 903 officers and crew. It tiate a deal with the White Star Lines However, this arrangement meant There is a little controversy over the Thad a heated swimming pool, a to supply musicians. The Amalgam- that musicians were deemed passengers last selection the musicians played. squash court, a fully-equipped gymna- ated Musicians’ Union (the English instead of crew. They were no longer un- Some survivors stated that it was a tune sium, two libraries, four restaurants, a analog to the AFM at the time) reacted der the jurisdiction of the captain. This called “Autumn.” Others say it was the medical bay, four electric elevators and angrily to this arrangement, since the meant that the Titanic’s bandsmen did hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” How- an operating theater. It is fair to say that Black brothers were now entitled to not have to remain on the ship while it ever, it is uncontroverted that they con- the great ship had all the luxuries of an a commission that decreased musi- sank. They could have sought refuge in tinued to play on the deck as the ship 20 ALLEGRO | September 2016 n NEWS & VIEWS Guitar Center workers still fighting for justice By ANIM ARNOLD witnessed firsthand how the company [email protected] dragged out negotiations for years. They refused to seriously consider our pro- HEN I staRTED my job at Gui- posals, and instead took our ideas and tar Center on 14th Street in instituted them in non-union stores. Manhattan three years ago, The company was trying to make an Wsome of my coworkers said example out of us. But we fought back that it used to be decent place to work. by holding rallies, leafletting at stores Many of us were working musicians, around the country, recruiting artists spending all our free time to join our Musician’s Alli- rehearsing and playing ance, starting online petitions with our bands. I loved the and eventually filing charges This plaque, which is hanging at Local 802, says: “A tribute to the bandsmen of the opportunity to learn about against the company. Titanic. When the order was ‘each man for himself,’ these heroes remained on board and the latest gear and meet Thankfully, the National played till the last.” The plaque then lists the names of the Titanic musicians: bandleader other musicians through Labor Relations Board agreed Wallace Hartley, George Krins, Roger Bricoux, Theodore Brailey, John Wesley Woodward, the store. Unfortunately, a with us, charging Guitar Cen- Percy Cornelius Taylor, John Frederick Preston Clarke and John Law Hume. The plaque was few years before I started, ter in 2015 with a huge nation- commissioned by Local 802’s predecessor, the Musical Mutual Protective Union, after the the company was bought al complaint alleging bad faith Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. by the infamous private bargaining, illegal withdrawal equity firm Bain Capital of union recognition, and dis- went down. They played tunes and er hangs in London’s Royal Albert Hall. (later, another firm called Anim Arnold crimination against union em- hymns that evoked peace and calm. As In the summer of 1912, a solid bronze Ares Management would get ployees. We are anxiously await- a result Admiral Lord Fisher of England plaque was commissioned and forged involved.). After Bain took over, working ing a verdict from the trial that resulted referred to them as “that glorious band.” by the Musical Mutual Protective Union conditions and pay began to decline. from the complaint. The story of the bandsmen of the Ti- (MMPU), Local 802’s predecessor. It So after years of broken promises Meanwhile, workers around the tanic who kept playing to the very end was designed by the German sculptor and ever-worsening conditions, we country continue to join the campaign, has captured the imagination of many. Albert Weinert and paid for by contri- organized with the Retail, Wholesale most recently in Monroeville, Charles A. Haas and John P. Eaton, butions made by union members. It was and Department Store Union (RWDSU/ Pennsylvania, where sales associates both of the Titanic International Soci- unveiled at the union’s headquarters on UFCW) in 2013, with our colleagues in won their union election a few ety, have contributed stories to Allegro Nov. 3, 1912. Chicago and Las Vegas following soon months ago. Won’t you stand with about the Titanic musicians. (See www. As readers know by now, the plaque after. (Allegro covered the story in its us at this critical moment in the Local802afm.org and search for “Ti- was lost for many years and only re- June 2013 issue; search the archives at campaign? You can drop us a line at tanic.”) Journalist Steven Turner wrote cently resurfaced in Florida in 2013. I re- www.Local802afm.org.) [email protected] and a very detailed account of the Titanic’s member the first time I saw the plaque, Guitar Center launched an aggres- we’ll add your name to our Musician’s bandsman titled “The Band That Played I was struck with its beauty. Well, it took sive union busting campaign, hiring Alliance and keep you posted on On.” I recommend it highly to anyone quite some effort (and some money) for anti-union firms to prevent more of our developments in the campaign. interested in exploring why the band me to reclaim the plaque and return it co-workers from organizing and mak- continued to play. to Local 802 where it rightfully belongs. ing our lives difficult in the store. As a Anim Arnold is a sales associate with While no one will ever know, it is I am very proud to permanently donate member of the bargaining committee, I Guitar Center. believed that the decision to remain it back to the union for all members to on board and continue to play was enjoy and remember the brave sacrifice made by the Titanic’s bandleader of “that glorious band.” Wallace Hartley. He was an extremely Titanic historians John P. Eaton and committed and religious man and he Charles A. Haas have prepared an illus- There is power in the union had remarked to many of his colleagues trated history of the Titanic entitled “Ti- that if a ship he played on ever sank, tanic: Triumph and Tragedy.” On page he would remain on board and play 296, there is a picture of the MMPU If you’re not earning the wages and benefits you “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” plaque stating that its whereabouts are deserve, call the Local 802 Organizing Department After the musicians perished, sev- “presently unknown.” The next edition at (212) 245-4802. Let’s work together to make sure eral memorials were prepared to honor will state that the plaque’s location is no them.