Membership Meeting: Membership Meeting: November/December 2018 Tuesday, November 13th, 2018 Tuesday, December 11th, 2018 Vol. 78 No. 9 @ 1:00 pm @ 1:00 pm Local 10-208 of AFM CHICAGO FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS OFFICERS – DELEGATES 2017-2019 Terryl Jares President Leo Murphy Vice-President Terryl Jares B.J. Levy Secretary-Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Bauchens Bob Lizik Rich Daniels Janice MacDonald Frank Donaldson Charles Schuchat THE STRIKE IS OVER! Jeff Handley The union and the orchestra committee (Bill Cernota, Matt That same day, we went back into negotiations and continued CONTRACT DEPARTMENT Comerford, Greg Sarchet, Ed Harrison and Ian Hallis) began through the next day until a tentative agreement was reached. In Leo Murphy – Vice-President negotiating with the Lyric Opera management in March. We were the end, both parties compromised. We still have a concessionary Nancy Van Aacken presented with draconian proposals that would drastically change contract, but much less so. When we started bargaining in March, ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDENT - JURISDICTIONS the job for the musicians. Up to opening night on October 6th, management was demanding pay cuts of up to 43%. That was Leo Murphy - Vice-President we met 25 times and made little progress. The Lyric management still on the table as recently as ten days before the strike. The final Supervisor - Entire jurisdiction was insistent. They needed to cut weeks, cut positions and cut pay. agreement includes a reduction in the number of main opera season including theaters We felt it was important to respect Lyric patrons and donors and weeks from 24 to 22 and a reduction in the number of musicians, (Cell Phone: 773-569-8523) performed on opening night and also allowed the Lyric Opera Gala but those concessions are mitigated by more favorable terms we were Dean Rolando Recordings, Transcriptions, to go on. able to obtain: Documentaries, Etc. The musicians of the Orchestra went on strike on October 9th • There is now a 5.6% increase in weekly salary over the 3-year (Cell Phone: 708-380-6219) for one reason: to preserve the Lyric Opera that generations of contract term. DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS OF THE Chicagoans have built over the past 65 years. Further cancellations • The 2019-20 season now includes a guarantee of five (5) ILLINOIS STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR by Lyric management were threatened, and the result would have additional weeks for the “Ring” cycle, outside of the 22-week main AND CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL been destructive for everyone – Lyric, the musicians and other Lyric opera season. ORGANIZATIONS employees, and Lyric’s loyal patrons. • The orchestra size will be reduced by four instead of five Terryl Jares Leo Murphy B.J. Levy A rally was held on October 12th at Daley Center Plaza in musicians, delayed until the 2019-20 season. support of the Lyric Opera Musicians. Mark Fisher led a brass choir • The Spring musical is now guaranteed to employ 37 members of DELEGATES TO CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR AND of Lyric musicians and friends. Speakers included Susanna Mendoza, the Orchestra, and the salary for the musicals increases significantly INDUSTRIAL UNION COUNCIL Illinois State Comptroller; Steve Lester, chair of the Chicago (by 6.6%). Rich Daniels Leo Murphy Symphony Orchestra musician committee; Don Villar, Secretary • There are new guarantees regarding the hiring of Orchestra Terryl Jares Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor; Naomi Bensdorf-Frisch, musicians for Joffrey Ballet productions beginning in 2020. DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS OF THE representative of ROPA (Regional Orchestra Players Association); • Health care benefits are maintained as is; family leave is now AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS Paul Austin, President of ICSOM (International Conference of 8 paid weeks; and there are numerous other improvements in Rich Daniels B.J. Levy Symphony and Opera Musicians) and our International AFM working conditions. Frank Donaldson Leo Murphy President Ray Hair. Maestro Muti of the Chicago Symphony The musicians of the Orchestra are forever grateful for the Terryl Jares Alternates: Orchestra even sent this message from Italy, “Lyric Opera has a great overwhelming support we received from Lyric’s patrons and donors Charles Schuchat artistic tradition that comes not only from singers and stage directors, from the moment the strike began. That outpouring of support gives EDITOR, THE INTERMEZZO but comes first from the musicians of the Orchestra.” us great hope for the future of Lyric Opera. We are confident that Terryl Jares they are ready to stand with us as we continue to fight to preserve ASSISTANT EDITOR, THE INTERMEZZO Lyric Opera of Chicago as one of the world’s greatest opera Leo Murphy That same day, we went back into negotiations and continued companies and the crown jewel of Chicago’s cultural life. PRESIDENTS EMERITI Gary Matts Ed Ward VICE-PRESIDENT EMERITUS Tom Beranek SECRETARY-TREASURER EMERITUS Spencer Aloisio BOARD OF DIRECTORS EMERITUS Ruth Marion Tobias Open Daily, except Saturday, Sunday and Holidays Office Hours 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. All Phones: 312-782-0063 (24 Hrs.) AFM WEB SITE: www.afm.org CFM WEB SITE: www.cfm10208.com Address all e-mail to the Secretary/Treasurer: [email protected] Cover photo provided by Dell Hall 2 Intermezzo November/December 2018 November/December 2018 Intermezzo 3 specialists within the network. Inquire with potential PCP’s Familiarize yourself with your insurance company’s about their referral policies. telemedicine contact information and policies. Not only can A PPO allows direct scheduling of appointments with this save you time and money but a trip to an urgent care specialists by a participant. In exchange for this freedom the clinic during a Chicago winter storm is something most of participant usually pays a higher premium and encounters us would be glad to avoid. higher costs when using the insurance (deductible, co- • Monitoring Your Annual Out-of-Pocket Limit: Out pay, co-insurance, out-of-pocket limit etc.). However, this of pocket limits reset at the beginning of the plan year Your Union and the Current State of Health Care freedom of choice, in what is usually a larger selection of (January 1st for most people). Making decisions, when in-network doctors, can be important to participants who possible, to have as much of your medical costs fall within by Nick Moran are currently being treated by a doctor or hospital not in an one plan year can provide significant savings. For example, available HMO network. Also, musicians frequently on tour a procedure requiring follow up care or multiple stages In 1961, James Petrillo had the vision to create a terms in the glossary below will help you make sense of the can benefit from PPO’s because these plans usually have a started in December could prove to be more expensive to department within our union to assist members with options being presented to you from the employer. national group of in-network doctors. you than having the same procedure/follow up care started health insurance by harnessing the power of our collective Glossary of Important Health Insurance Terms in September. As always, consult with your doctor regarding strength. He may not have foreseen the health insurance • Deductible: The amount you owe for health care Using Your Insurance the timing of any treatments. challenges that we face today yet the fund he created, the services that your plan covers before your health insurance Chicago Federation of Musicians Employers Welfare Fund, company begins to pay. For example, if your deductible is Understanding some basic regulations and insurance Union Leadership Looking Towards the Future continues to help our members 57 years later. $1000, your plan won’t pay anything until you’ve met your company rules can make using your insurance significantly The CFM officers and staff will continue to explore the We are now approaching the 2018 open enrollment $1000 deductible for covered health care services subject to less expensive. best ways to harness the power of our unified numbers period for most insurance plans. Your Union recognizes that the deductible. There are some services, usually preventive • In Network/Out of Network: Using health care to your benefit. In 2017, I along with fund Trustees Terryl many of you will have questions about your options and care, which you can use that may be exempt from the providers that are in-network provides significant savings Jares and Leo Murphy, significantly lowered the Chicago concerns about rising costs. We are here to help. deductible. over using ones that are out-of-network. When scheduling Federation of Musicians Employers Welfare Fund’s expenses • Co-Pay: A fixed amount (for example, $15) you pay appointments with health care providers, confirm that they while managing to avoid a monthly cost increase to our Insurance Options for a covered health care service, often for services exempt are in-network for your particular plan. Asking if they accept HMO participants in a year when many plans experienced from your deductible. The amount can vary by the type of your insurance is not sufficient as many out-of-network CFM: The CFM offers to our membership several health double digit cost percentage increases. In 2016, while covered health care service. providers will confirm that they accept your insurance insurance benefits. We currently offer two different medical acting as Administrator of the Fund, now Secretary Treasurer • Co-Insurance: Your share of the costs of a covered without notifying you that you will be responsible for a insurance options and a combined dental and vision plan. BJ Levy established the dental and vision plans that we health care service, calculated as a percent (for example, higher percentage of the costs. Members that are vested in the AFM pension plan or have continue to offer and this year a partnership began, at 20%) of the allowed amount for the service once you • Emergency Room vs Urgent Care Clinic: Most plans in earned at least $3,000.00 in union wages in the current no cost to the union, between the CFM and the Chicago have reached your deductible.