Happy New Year!!! What a way to start the 2015. Youve heard me rant over the past decade about airlines trashing our gear...2 guitars, 1 hard shell case, hrs of time wasted with the airlines giving us the run-around & touting FAA Rules that dont exist to stifle us. Then after they break your instrument the real hassle begins. The handoff! Talk to the claims department so they can transfer you to the department that transfers complaints to every other department. Job Security? Lazy ignorance! Now with the help of Raymond M. Hair, Jr & The Musicians Union who have fought for us to be able to carry our tools of the trade with us to do our job. Thank you for all the hard work & dedication youve shown to us traveling musicians. Here is the letter received in email form to let all musicians know our rights are protected. Enjoy! I am pleased to announce that on December 30, 2014 the United States Department of Transportation released the long awaited final administrative rule which fully implements section 403 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2012 – the law authorizing musical instruments as carry-on baggage onboard US air carriers. This historic accomplishment was led by your Union and made possible through efforts by Members of Congress who are longtime AFM allies, and officers and rank and file members of Local 161-710, Washington, DC. We were also assisted by the Department of Professional Employees, AFL-CIO and by many of our music industry partners. I am currently analyzing the rule in order to bring you a concise, comprehensive explanation of these new policies and how they affect you. Look for that analysis soon at afm.org and in the February edition of the International Musician. However, Id like to bring to your attention several important points that I believe are worthy of your immediate attention. • Airlines are required to allow small musical instruments, such as a violin or guitar, to be carried into the cabin and stowed in approved stowage spaces, if available, and/or under the seat. • Once safely stowed, airlines cannot require passengers to remove their instruments, even if space taken by their instrument could accommodate one or more other carry-on items. • Airlines cannot charge an additional fee for instruments as carry-on or checked baggage other than any standard fee imposed by the carrier. • Airlines are now required to train air crews, gate agents, counter agents and baggage personnel concerning appropriate procedures necessary to comply with all FAA musical instrument transportation policies. Those of you interested in reading the rule can do so here: dot.gov/airconsumer/final-rule-musical-instruments. I want to acknowledge the work of our National Legislative Office-Office of Government Relations and the two Directors who helped usher this process through to the end – Alfonso Pollard, our current Director and former Director Hal Ponder, who retired in the spring of 2013. Special recognition is in order for International Executive Board Member and Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy, Local 161-710 President Ed Malaga and Secretary Treasurer Marta Bradley, and National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) violist and ICSOM Governing Board Member Jennifer Mondie, who attended my recent meetings with Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, his General Counsel Kathryn Thomson and DOT Deputy Assistant General Counsel, Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings and their staff. I believe it was the impromptu solo performances by Dave and Jennifer at our discussion sessions that may have led the Federal Government to finally come around to our way of thinking. I also want to thank major and regional airline executives for their work and cooperation in bringing these important new policies to fruition. Finally, please accept my best wishes for a happy, healthy and productive New Year! Sincerely and fraternally yours, Raymond M. Hair, Jr., International President American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:34:39 +0000
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