The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is the largest labor union for professional musicians in the United States and Canada. Local 6 in San Francisco, California, is one of its chapters. The purpose of this union was to engage in collective bargaining on behalf of working musicians who faced competition for jobs and poor working conditions, especially during the 1800s when San Francisco became a major metropolitan city. The first successful organizing attempt resulted in the formation of the Musicians' Mutual Protecting Union, Local 10, that was chartered by the National League of Musicians on September 3, 1885. After the National League of Musicians ceased operations, many of its locals were granted charters by the AFM, the new national musicians union. Todays' Musicians Union Local 6 in San Francisco was granted its charter on February 2, 1897.