Dear Fellow Local 6 Member

My name is James Pytko, and I’m running for Secretary-Treasurer to strengthen and support our Local. For those who don’t know me, I wanted to introduce myself and share why I’m running for this office. 

I grew up on the north shore of Long Island, New York, in a public school district that valued music education. I fell in love with music as a young child watching my parents sing in a church choir. I fell in love with the clarinet because of Benny Goodman, and then Brahms. After attending music school in Boston and Cincinnati, I moved to the Bay Area a little over 15 years ago and have been a part of Local 6 for the last 12 years. When I first started playing in the Bay Area freelance orchestra scene, affectionately known as the Freeway Phil, I was surprised by how welcoming the musicians were. In an industry where we are often told to have a competitive edge, I was greeted with compassion and community at every gig. 

Since then, I’ve gotten to know our community intimately, playing clarinet and bass clarinet with most of our Local 6 symphony, opera and ballet orchestras. From orchestra pits to polka bands, recording studios to chamber music, I play a wide variety of gigs every week. These diverse experiences have given me a thorough understanding of how these groups operate and what our area's working musicians need. 

In 2019, I won my first contract with a local opera company as their second/bass clarinetist. Just as I finished the third opera of my inaugural season, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. During that difficult time, I saw once again what our Local 6 community is made of: true solidarity and kindness. 

In 2021, I began working directly for Musicians Union Local 6 as the Financial Assistant. I was fortunate to learn the role from my predecessor, Cheryl Fippen, and our current Secretary-Treasurer, Beth Zare. Working in the office has given me firsthand experience with everything required to keep our Local financially sound. My daily responsibilities include managing bookkeeping, supporting our officers, preparing and documenting taxes, and assisting with Local 6’s annual Department of Labor and AFM audits. I am also proficient in QuickBooks and Intuit Payroll, and know how they work for our local. 

Beyond my core financial duties, I serve as the Music Performance Trust Fund Administrator (MPTF). In this role, I coordinate over 100 free public concerts each year, ensuring hundreds of our members earn fair wages for these performances.

The Local 6 staff and I work hard to stay attuned to our community so we can support fellow musicians facing injury or unexpected hardship. I have the privilege of reaching out to members in these difficult moments to connect them with financial assistance through the Local 6 Emergency Relief Fund and the AFM Petrillo Fund. Additionally, I administer the Local 6 payroll service. 

Beyond these administrative duties that are a part of my job as Financial Assistant, I remain actively engaged in labor and member advocacy: 

● Union Steward: I have served as a Union Steward for multiple Local 6 orchestras, acting as a direct labor point of contact on the job. 

● ROPA Delegate: As a Regional Orchestra Players Association delegate for over three years, I’ve collaborated with orchestras nationwide and brought those valuable insights back to serve Local 6. 

● Contract Negotiations: I served on Opera San José’s Negotiating Committee for our last two contract cycles. During our most recent negotiation this past April, management’s initial proposal called for severe cuts to our guaranteed service minimums. Our committee organized the orchestra, built strong member solidarity, coordinated work actions, and brought management back to the table to secure a fair contract. 

● Organizing Support: Outside our jurisdiction, I am currently assisting members of another orchestra as they organize to establish their first Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

I believe in our union because I know it works. Solidarity and community have sustained me throughout my career, and I want to ensure every member feels heard, represented, and welcomed just as I was. Strong community and active solidarity will be our greatest assets as we navigate AI, evolving media landscapes, streaming economics, shifts in philanthropic giving, rising performance costs, and broader labor challenges. As our industry evolves, it is vital that we lift each other up. 

Our union is made up of far more than just classical musicians. Through my work at Local 6, I’ve had the privilege of listening to diverse perspectives across our entire membership, and I am committed to representing and serving ALL musicians. 

I am already doing the work for Local 6, and I ask for your vote so I can continue serving you in a larger capacity as Secretary-Treasurer. From day one, you need a leader who is ready to do the job, continue fighting for you, and meet these changes head-on. 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. Please remember to mail in your ballot for James Pytko for Secretary-Treasurer. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your dedication to our union. 

In Solidarity, 

James Pytko