New union for musicians in Ireland

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday March 03, 2003 17:02 by SIPTU

New union for musicians in Ireland

New union for musicians in Ireland
http://www.siptu.ie/news/article.php?id=768

- 22 January 2003

SIPTU has established a new representative body to cater exclusively for musicians in Ireland. To be known as the Musicians' Union of Ireland (MUI), the new body will recruit and represent every kind of musician.

SIPTU's long standing members in the National Symphony Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra and the Vanburgh Quartet are already enrolled in the Musicians' Union of Ireland, along with freelance orchestral players who perform in both orchestras.

As well as continuing to represent classical instrumentalists, the new union will recruit professional freelance musicians of every genre, including contemporary, jazz, pop, rock and traditional.

Commenting on the formation of the new union, MUI Secretary, John Swift, said "this long overdue development has been welcomed enthusiastically by musicians. For too long, musicians have been divided and exploited. By uniting in this new venture, which has the full resources of SIPTU at its disposal, musicians will become a significant force with considerable influence with employers and other agencies."

The inaugural meeting of the Musicians' Union of Ireland will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2003, in Dublin.

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