Negotiations
What Happens When A Contract Expires?
Thu, Sep 9, 2016
by Drew McManus
Just because the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between an orchestra and its musicians expires doesn’t mean the organization necessarily comes to a screeching halt. Although it certainly adds an additional layer of pressure to negotiations, in most cases, the employer continues paying wages and benefits under the terms of the expired agreement until a new
Let’s Talk About The Unionized Environment Within The Orchestra Field
Thu, Oct 10, 2015
by Drew McManus
On 10/3/15, I had the pleasure to return as a guest on Doing What Works with Maureen Anderson, a weekly radio talk show that originates from WZFG AM 1100 and runs on Sundays from 10 to midnight Central on the Radio America network, to talk about the unique unionized environment within the orchestra field. If
Understanding The Difference Between A Strike And A Lockout
Wed, Aug 8, 2012
by Drew McManus
Whenever labor disputes reach a breaking point, one of the most commonly misunderstood concepts is the difference between a strike and a lockout. The distinction is the first, crucial step in understanding the nature of the dispute. The Basics In the realm of labor law, strikes and lockouts are types of work stoppages. Strikes are
The Negotiation Process: How It Works
Tue, Aug 8, 2010
by Drew McManus
The first step in understanding how your local orchestra functions as an organization is to understand the basic principles behind the document that deals with nearly every facet of its operations: the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Every major orchestra in America, regardless of union status, has some form of a contract that exists as a result of collective bargaining. This contract governs all issues related to musician compensation, benefits, work conditions, and the dismissal process.
The Negotiation Process: Who Does What
Tue, Aug 8, 2004
by Drew McManus
This installment of the “Negotiation Process” series will examine the answers to a common misconception about who does what during contract negotiations. Next in this series of articles, we’ll take a deeper look into “who” does “what” during the process. Mary Lo from Washington wrote to ask, “Why do the musicians care about all of
