A recent article in the 12/11/2012 Minneapolis Star Tribune by Kristin Tillotson focuses on growing frustration among Minnesota Orchestra Association (MOA) and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) ticket buyers over the extended lockouts. Tillotson’s article got me thinking about the degree of volatility among stakeholders and I’m curious to know whether or not readers notice any substantive difference in such things from one labor dispute to the next.
To that end, let’s use a poll to find out. Granted, terms such as volatility, contentiousness, etc. are mostly subjective when applied to labor disputes, but you should use your own understanding to make a decision for the poll. In this sense, there’s no right or wrong interpretation.
I chose Philadelphia, not necessarily because it was more contentious than those others listed, but because this iconic orchestra – among the world’s very best – screwed retirees out of promised benefits, lowered wages by 30%, cut the full-time orchestra from 105 + 2 librarians to 95 – 2 librarians, raised heath charges and sent important principal players looking elsewhere for work. So far, the only major orchestra to declare bankruptcy while owning the Academy of Music and possessing a $120-140 million endowment just to get out of musicians’ pension liability for which their annual cost was far less than the attorneys’ fees spent on the bankruptcy. The disrespect shown to these wonderful musicians knows no bounds.
I think the MN situation since it’s ongoing will win, but so far Louisville for me is unprecedented in the level of contentiousness because there wasn’t only a threat of replacing the musicians, it was put into motion, and that puts it on an entirely different level.
I chose Philadelphia, not necessarily because it was more contentious than those others listed, but because this iconic orchestra – among the world’s very best – screwed retirees out of promised benefits, lowered wages by 30%, cut the full-time orchestra from 105 + 2 librarians to 95 – 2 librarians, raised heath charges and sent important principal players looking elsewhere for work. So far, the only major orchestra to declare bankruptcy while owning the Academy of Music and possessing a $120-140 million endowment just to get out of musicians’ pension liability for which their annual cost was far less than the attorneys’ fees spent on the bankruptcy. The disrespect shown to these wonderful musicians knows no bounds.
I think the MN situation since it’s ongoing will win, but so far Louisville for me is unprecedented in the level of contentiousness because there wasn’t only a threat of replacing the musicians, it was put into motion, and that puts it on an entirely different level.