Negotiations

Apparently Something Happened In Indianapolis

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Remember the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s (ISO) big, ugly, and very public labor dispute and work stoppage? It was temporarily suspended thanks to a bridge agreement that included a board goal of raising $5 million by the beginning of February. That deadline recently passed and the ISO issued a press release on 2/3/2013 stating they exceeded their goal. Unfortunately, there aren’t many details and the local Indianapolis press has been more or …

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A Momentary Respite In Minnesota

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On Friday, 2/1/2013 the Minnesota Orchestra came together again to play as an ensemble under their music director, Osmo Vanska, for the first time since the lockout that has obliterated the 2012-13 season started. There are numerous reports about the sold-out and emotionally charged concert but after the applause, all that remains is the reality of a continued work stoppage. The fact that Vanska conducted the concert is nothing short of …

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Darker Days Ahead In St. Paul

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Things are looking bleak at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) where mediated talks conducted under a press blackout have broken down. The SPCO musicians released a statement on 1/17/2013 castigating their employer for what they defined as an “unwillingness to compromise on key issues” and cancelling additional concerts through 3/23/2013. Unfortunately, neither side provided details surrounding the key issues of compensation and artistic control that caused the breakdown, however, an …

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Down To The Wire In Indianapolis

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The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is a few weeks out from their February 3, 2013 deadline to raise $5 million. The goal is part of a deal that brought performances back to the public and ended an increasingly hostile labor dispute. Functioning as something akin to a cease-fire agreement, the board accepted the goal of raising $5 million while the musicians accepted a 25% salary reduction during the same period (additional …

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Speaking Of Patron Driven Ethics

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Following up on yesterday’s article on the impact of ethics on the current round of labor disputes, it is worthwhile to point out some recent efforts on behalf of patron stakeholders to influence the strategic decision making process within the context of a labor dispute. In St. Paul, the Save Our SPCO (St. Paul Chamber Orchestra) patron group is garnering local press attention for their efforts to influence the work stoppage. …

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