Jargon Buster A helpful glossary for Musicians' Union Members. Musicians' Union Terms and Acronyms Being a part of a union comes with its own terminology, this glossary aims to provide clear explanations to help give you a better understanding of words and jargon used in the Musicians' Union. A-D E-L M-R S-Z A-D ACAS An independent public body for impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. Its full name is the Arbitration Conciliation and Arbitration Service. AGM AGM stands for Annual General Meeting. It’s a yearly event open to all members of a union region to discuss the MU’s activities in the nation and/or region, local issues and future plans. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/annual-general-meetings ASOS ASOS is one of two types of industrial action – Action Short of Strike – and is a step before full industrial action (strike). It can include working to contract, not doing voluntary activities, refusing overtime and doing ‘go slows’. For example, MU members in orchestras have worn t-shirts instead of their usual concert dress and made speeches from the stage as part of their ASOS. Ballot Election process that requires online or paper voting, depending on what the ballot is for. Ballots may be consultative or statutory. An example of a consultative ballot is a ballot of freelance members on a new agreement. An example of a statutory ballot is a ballot for the Executive Committee. Statutory ballots are regulated by law and therefore run by independent scrutineers UK Engage on behalf of the union. Certification Officer (CO) The CO is the Government regulator of trade unions in the UK. The CO holds trade unions accountable to both unions’ own rules and trade union law such as The Trade Union Act (2016). → https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/certification-officer Back to top of page E-L Equalities Member Networks The MU’s networks for Women, Disabled and LGBT+ members, and members who experience racism. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/equality-member-networks Executive Committee (EC) The EC is the national governing body of the Musicians' Union, making major decisions that affect the working lives of musicians. It deals with many important issues such as industrial negotiations, employment policy and financial management. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/committees#executive-committee GDPR GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. This is the legal framework that protects the collection and processing of personal data. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/legal-money/workplace-rights-and-legislation/ukgdpr-and-data-protection General Secretary (GS) The General Secretary is the equivalent of a Chief Executive Officer for a trade union. They are responsible to the Executive Committee (EC) for all aspects of the operation, development and stability of the union and are bound by the union’s rules. They are nominated and democratically elected by members every five years. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/mu-democracy/general-secretary-election Insourcing When a contract ends and the work is transferred in-house. It s the opposite of ‘outsourcing’. Back to top of page M-R Motion A motion is a proposal for action that, if passed by a vote at the relevant union committee or conference, must be adopted. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/motions MU Biennial Delegate Conference / MU Conference / Delegate Conference The ultimate decision-making body of the union and the most important event around which the MU’s two-year democratic cycle is organised. Member delegates from all six union regions submit, debate and vote on motions to determine the next two years of MU work. The Executive Committee presents its report on the last two years of union work to MU Conference to be held to account, and delegates are invited to ask questions, raise issues and make comments. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/delegate-conference National Organiser Head of one of the union’s four industrial departments. These are Orchestras, Recording and Broadcasting, Education, and Live Performance, Theatre and Music Writers → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/music-industry-sections Outsourcing When a service provided in-house is taken over by a contractor. It is the opposite of ‘insourcing’. Conversations about outsourcing may also cover ‘retendering’ - a process in which a contract ends and is taken over by a new contractor. Regional Committee Regional Committees oversee activity in each of the union’s six regions. Members meet to discuss and act on local issues affecting musicians in their union region. They also help recruit and organise members, among other responsibilities. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/committees/regional-committees Regional Organiser Head of one of the six union regions. These are Wales & South West England, East & South East England, London, Midlands, North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/contact#meet-the-team Back to top of page S-Z Secretariat The MU’s senior management team comprising the General Secretary and two Assistant General Secretaries. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/contact/national-office Section Committee Section Committees oversee policy in the relevant section of the music industry. They are democratically elected and typically meet quarterly to discuss what’s happening in their sector. The MU has Section Committees covering music teaching, recording, music writing, orchestras, theatre and live performance. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/committees/section-committees Trade union A collective of members who work in a specific industry or workplace, that looks after those members’ interests at work through collective bargaining, workplace representation and the provision of benefits and services They are funded by member subscriptions, have a specific status in law and are regulated by Government via the Certification Officer. → https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu Trade Union Congress (TUC) The umbrella body for the trade union movement, which acts collectively on behalf of members of all affiliated unions. → https://www.tuc.org.uk/ TUPE Government regulation that protects employees and workers during a transfer of business or service provider, such as outsourcing, insourcing or retendering. TUPE is an acronym that stands for Transfer of Undertakings (Protections of Employment) → https://www.acas.org.uk/tupe/advice-for-employers-and-employees UK Music The umbrella body for the music industry of which the MU is a founder member. It lobbies on behalf of the industry’s interests and is governed by a board that includes record labels, music publishers and other representatives from trade bodies and interest groups. → https://www.ukmusic.org/ Back to top of page