Dear Friend,
The U.S. Senate approved H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in a 90-8 vote on Wednesday and the president signed the bill into law. The bill had already cleared the House of Representatives by a margin of 363-40 last week. The legislation includes provisions helpful to working families that among other things:
- Establishes a federal emergency paid leave benefits program to provide payments to employees taking unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Expands unemployment benefits and provide grants to states for processing and paying claims.
- Requires employers to provide paid sick leave to employees.
- Establishes requirements for providing coronavirus diagnostic testing at no cost to consumers.
We and our sister entertainment unions recognize that H.R. 6201 does not provide specific relief for musicians and other entertainment workers who are uniquely impacted by the coronavirus crisis, nor does it address the short-term nature of our work, often for multiple employers. We are working to have legislation introduced, which would provide relief for working people in the entertainment industry, which we believe is every bit as crucial to the economy as the cruise ship, airline and travel industries.
To provide legislative solutions particular to musicians and other performers in the gig economy, we are calling for emergency wage payment relief for musicians, performers and others whose work has been lost due to shutdowns related to coronavirus.
As additional emergency COVID-19 appropriations bills are introduced in Congress, we will keep you apprised of our efforts.
In Unity,
Ray Hair
AFM International President
