Europe | Unionizing so-called “atypical” workers

Published on December 10, 2018 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Europe, Fundamental rights, Labour rights, Precarious work, Working relationship

Forum on unionization of atypical workers in the media and entertainment sectors (Rotterdam, 30–31 October 2018)

On 30 and 31 October 2018 in Rotterdam, FIM, FIA, UNI-MEI and EFJ held a forum devoted to unionization of so-called “atypical” workers attended by some fifty union representatives from Europe. The term “atypical” is today in current use and refers to the working relationship of professionals who, in our trades, are generally called “freelance”. The precariousness which characterizes these forms of work results in particular from European rules in the field of competition law.

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Kenya | The government must recognize KeMU as a union!

Published on September 17, 2018 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Africa, International trade union co-operation

The political crisis in the wake of the 2017 elections in Kenya has created considerable difficulties for professional musicians whose engagements have seriously diminished, but also for national union KeMU, whose activities and projects have been significantly disrupted.

It was against this backdrop that, along with SMF and KeMU, FIM organised a national workshop in Nairobi (4–6 September 2018) within the scope of a union training programme backed by Union to Union. The workshop focused on developing and organising the union as well as on gender equality.

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Ivory Coast | SAMCI continues structuring

Published on September 17, 2018 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Africa, Gender equality, Intellectual property, International trade union co-operation

FIM and the Musicians’ Union of the Ivory Coast (SAMCI) organised a national training workshop in Abidjan, from 16–19 July 2018, as part of its regional training programme backed by Union to Union. The workshop benefitted from a partnership with regional organisation Arterial Network, whose headquarters are in Abidjan.

The workshop focused on two issues:
1. the union’s internal organisation;
2. gender equality.

Since July 2017, SAMCI has been officially recognized as a professional union, has become a FIM member and held empowerment meetings for various communities of musicians, mainly in the Abidjan region.

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The European Parliament adopts the copyright directive

Published on September 14, 2018 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Europe, Intellectual property

On Wednesday 12 September 2018, the European Parliament adopted the proposed directive on copyright in the digital single market. It also gave mandate to the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) to enter into inter-institutional negotiations with the Commission and the Council (trialogue).

This result is a genuine success for performers, achieved after considerable efforts and against a globally hostile backdrop. In reality, the European Commission’s initial proposal fell way short of our expectations, entirely leaving to one side, for example, the central issue of artists’ remuneration where streaming was concerned.

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Europe | Atypical work in the arts, entertainment and media sector

Published on September 14, 2016 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Atypical work, Europe

On 8 and 9 September 2016, the final conference took place in Brussels of the joint FIM, FIA, UNI-MEI and EFJ project focusing on the future of work and atypical working in the arts, entertainment and media sector. It was held in the European Parliament and the premises of the European Economic and Social Committee.

Besides representatives from the four organising federations, the conference welcomed European and national parliamentarians, representatives of the European Commission, the International Labour Office (ILO) and the European Trade Unions Confederation (ETUC) as well as jurists specialized in social law.

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OiRA tools for the Live Performance sector

Published on March 30, 2016 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Europe

Workplaces in the live performance sector are challenged by very diverse health and safety risks. These stem from a broad range of activities such as stage performances, chemical substances used in special effects, the presence of an audience and environmental aspects such as lighting and temperature.

Specific risk assessment strategies are vital to prevent accidents and ill-health in the sector. The OiRA tools are developed to support small enterprises in better dealing with these challenges.

The EU social partners from the Live Performance sector : the European Arts and Entertainment Alliance (EAEA, composed of FIM, FIA and UNI MEI) and Pearle* have released a video on their Online interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) tools.

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ILO | Meeting of Experts makes progress on precarious work

Published on March 28, 2015 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Atypical work, ILO

IAEA was represented by its President, John Smith, at an ILO tripartite Meeting of Experts on non-standard forms of employment. Conclusions agree to strengthen the ILO’s responses to precarious work.

After the Global Dialogue Forum on the working relationship in the Media and Culture sector held at the ILO headquarters in May 2014, a Committee of Experts representing employers, governments and workers met in Geneva on 16-19 February 2015 to debate how the ILO should respond to the threats to workers’ rights brought about by the expansion of precarious work.

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Rome Opera crisis: IAEA issues a protest letter

Published on October 16, 2014 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: General

OPEN LETTER TO THE BOARD OF THE ROME OPERA THEATRE, THE MUNICIPALITY OF ROME AND THE GOVERNMENT OF ITALY

The three International Federations representing workers in the Arts and Entertainment sector call upon the Board of the Rome Opera Theatre to reverse its decision to dismiss all orchestra musicians and choir members.

The International Federation of Musicians (FIM), the International Federation of Actors (FIA), UNI – Media, Entertainment & Arts (UNI MEI) and their member organisations in more than 120 countries were extremely shocked to learn about the decision of the Board of the Rome Opera to terminate the contracts of all the orchestra musicians and choir members of this institution, in a disgraceful act of cultural vandalism.

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Private copying – FIA, FIM and UNI-MEI contest the conclusions of the European mediator

Published on April 22, 2013 by iaea – Comments off

Filed under: Intellectual property

FIA, FIM and UNI-MEI have reacted very negatively to the recommendations put forward on the 31 January 2013 by Mr. António Vitorino, the mediator chosen by the European Commission regarding the private copying issue.

In this document, Mr. Vitorino unexpectedly reflects the discourse of manufacturers and importers of recording media who want to avoid paying the levy which is currently required of them, regardless of the fact that, for many years, these multinationals have made considerable profits from the sale of blank media as a result of the countless acts of consumers copying protected contents.

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