#TBT Work Stoppage Basics

Every time a work stoppage rolls around and lasts for more than a few weeks, it is common to see some typical questions arise. To that end, today’s #TBT includes some articles I’ve written over the years that cover some of these topics.

Here’s one that continues to be one of the most visited articles at the blog.

Understanding The Difference Between A Strike And A Lockout

While a contract expiration doesn’t automatically trigger a work stoppage, some of the options in the following article, such as reaching partial agreements or imposing a contract, are applicable.

What Happens When A Contract Expires?

And while not related to work stoppages in general, there’s an article from 2016 that intersects with some comments from Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s President Jeff Alexander during a press conference from 3/18/19 that we may revisit soon enough.

Unraveling The Mystery Of Paid Vacation Weeks

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

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