The 7/18/2012 edition of Minnesota Public Radio News published a segment from Chris Roberts that examines the ongoing negotiations at the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Roberts interviews a quartet of sources to obtain a larger perspective on how these negotiations will impact not only their respective institutions, and the local arts community.
Negotiations
How About That; A New Contract Without Drama
In an age when contentious labor disputes abound, it’s nice to run across a situation where stakeholders reached an agreement without resorting to public mudslinging. Case in point, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) announced they reached a new four year agreement 14 months ahead of the current contract’s expiration date.
Back To The Future In Jacksonville
The 6/21/2012 edition of the Florida Times-Union reports in an article by Charlie Patton that the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (JAX) is once again running large deficits and considering sizable cuts amidst the expiration of the musicians’ collective bargaining agreement. The orchestra instituted large cuts in 2008 following a contentious labor dispute and lockout but it appears the group has not parlayed those concessions into projected stability.
New Details In The SPCO Negotiations
In the wake of Monday’s post about the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) negotiations, additional details regarding management’s initial offer have surfaced by way of a comment thread initiated by a SPCO musician negotiating committee member. According to that information, the SPCO was looking for concessions beyond reductions in weeks.
There’s No Good Way To Spin News Like This
An article by Graydon Royce in the 6/11/2012 edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the ongoing negotiations at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) are not going well. Apparently, the musicians have rejected the association’s initial offer that focused on achieving a 14 percent cut in expenses by reducing the number of weeks for most of the chamber orchestra’s salaried musicians from 35 to 20 and as few as 15 for a small number of unnamed positions.