Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is the world's largest local union of professional musicians, based in New York City. Founded in 1951 (at least for their health fund), the organization represents recording, freelance orchestral, and performing musicians across the entertainment community. The union operates as a membership-based organization providing advocacy, collective bargaining, and member services.
Local 802 offers a comprehensive suite of member benefits centered on financial security and professional support. These include a Musicians Health Fund providing health care and insurance, pension programs, a credit union for members, grants and emergency assistance, legal advice, scholarships, access to rehearsal space, and unclaimed check recovery services. Members also receive access to the Music Performance Trust Fund and gain collective bargaining power for improved pay, job security, and working conditions through union contracts.
What distinguishes Local 802 is its hyper-specialization in serving professional musicians specifically, rather than functioning as a general-purpose financial institution. The organization combines traditional union representation with member financial services, making it uniquely positioned to understand the income volatility and professional challenges facing recording and performing artists. Their credit union operates exclusively for members, and they maintain active campaigns on contemporary issues like AI protection for musicians.
However, Local 802 is fundamentally a union first and financial services provider second. Access to their banking products (credit union) and financial assistance is restricted to union members who meet eligibility requirements. The website provides limited detail about credit union rates, terms, or product specifics.
For non-members seeking general banking, credit, or personal finance solutions, Local 802 is not accessible. Even for members, the union's primary function is advocacy and contract negotiation rather than comprehensive retail financial services.