So Is This A Remark That Sows, Or A Remark That Reaps?

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The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association held its second teleconference press conference on Monday, 3/18/19 and as luck would have it, I’ve been unable to attend both. Nonetheless, Chicago Tribune reporter Howard Reich authored an article for the paper’s 3/18/19 edition that includes his overview of the conversion. While most of the conversation seems unremarkable, one comment stood out. For those unaware, Chicago is amidst an historic mayoral election where the two …

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Where Things Stand In The Chicago Symphony Strike

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The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s (CSO) musicians have been on strike for one week and over that time, both sides have spent as much, if not more, time waging PR battles than actively bargaining. As of now, the employer, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA), has been cancelling events on a day-by-day basis. On a broader perspective, this can be a positive as it provides as much time as possible to reach an …

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Planning Ahead For A Busy Week And A Quick CSO Update

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What a week to be away at a conference. At the time this article was written (Sunday, March 10), the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was in the last few hours before the musicians’ deadline to reach a new agreement before going on strike. Update: the musicians are officially on strike. As of late, I’ve been happy to give labor stoppages a 24-48 hour window to resolve on their own before taking …

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Chicago Symphony Orchestra Musicians Will Go On Strike If New Deal Isn’t Reached By March 10, 2019

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In 2012, the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) decided to announce a strike exactly one hour before one of the initial concerts from that season. The result was patrons arriving at the hall to discover the concert was cancelled.  While some offered their support, others were extremely upset at the short notice. Ultimately, that strike settled in a matter of days, but the amount of patron animosity reached higher …

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Baltimore Decides To Do Away With the Safety Net

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Back in November, we examined some of the contentious negotiation points in the ongoing negotiations between the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and its musicians. Fast forward a few months and according to a 1/15/2019 press statement from the musicians, not much has changed. The only exception being the employer has decided not to extend the written play-and-talk agreement, which extended the terms of the previous agreement for four months. According to …

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