Orchestras Locked Out Across The Country As Contract Disputes Continue
Submitted by Steve on September 13, 2012
From Lucas Kavner for Huffington Post:
This hasn't been a good month for concert musicians. As orchestras across the country continue to tighten their belts, players are being asked to make do with less. And if agreements aren't reached soon, mounting tensions could leave a handful of America's top orchestras without any actual players on their stages in the coming season.
Talks have completely stalled at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, where musicians are currently locked out of their home at the Woodruff Arts Center.
Facing a potential $20 million deficit, the ASO proposed more than $5 million in cuts to musicians' salaries over two years. The musicians' union collectively agreed to $4 million in cuts over that same period, but no more than that. In response, the ASO has halted the musicians' salaries, health benefits, and rehearsals, until an agreement can be reached.