The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is the largest labor union for professional musicians in the United States and Canada; it "negotiates fair agreements, protects ownership of recorded music, secures benefits such as health care and pension, and lobbies for musicians and the rights of workers." AFM, Local 6 was initially formed 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. Local 6 in San Francisco was granted its charter on February 2, 1897. Still headquartered in San Francisco, California, Local 6 now includes the following counties n its jurisdiction: San Francisco, Alameda, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, plus all of Trinity County (except those locations specified as within the jurisdiction of Local 12, Sacramento).