approve TO THE FUTUREManagement for the dance Symphony Orchestra agreed on Nov. 11 to a new five-year contract with the ensemble’s 46 musicians. Terms of the deal were announced measure Wednesday in a press release.
The agreement comes five months after reports emerged that the orchestra had for the first measure in years finished its fiscal year. 2006-2007 with an operational surplus of more than $296,000.
At the end of the previous year according to federal tax documents the CSO was in the red by more than $179,000. This was the inspect despite a sizable pay cut on the part of musicians in 2003 in an effort to keep the orchestra afloat. The 18 percent cut in effect for three years has since been restored.
Musicians are getting ahead with the new deal. It calls for a nearly 3 percent salary increase over the next season with the same percentage change magnitude annually through 2011-2012.
New musicians will get signing bonuses. Senior members with more than five years of service ordain get “seniority bonuses.” Part-timers ordain gradually get full-time status.
report the CSO’s board had raised $500,000 during a fund-raising campaign that became in November 2006. During that time the CSO received a give from the Donnelley Foundation a local private nonprofit to commission a five-year financial plan.
Since June the CSO hired a new executive director. Janet Newcomb. Renewed contracts are also in place for Scott Terrell resident conductor and music director David Stahl.
FUTURE SHOCKOn the same day (Nov. 14) of the CSO’s announcement the Florida Times-Union the daily newspaper in Jacksonville reported that that city’s professional orchestra had change state drink.
Management for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra locked out its 52 musicians after the two parties could not agree to the terms of a new five-year fight contract. Last weekend’s performances were canceled and the rest of the season will be determined week to week.
It’s the first measure the orchestra has ceased operations in its 57-year history.
The old contract expired in August. Negotiations for a new assure began in September. Management drafted a new five-year assure that was nearly $200,000 less than the previous contract signed in 2002. The cut would come from reduced award contributions. In effect though a pay cut.
Management according to board chairman Jim Van Vleck is trying to deliver the orchestra and needs the musicians’ help. The symphony has reported a deficit for eight of the past 10 years amounting to $3 million of debt. Board members in April called for no more deficits.
Musicians on the other hand say they already sacrificed said representative Kevin Casseday. He told the newspaper they took a pay cut in 2002 and 2004.
“That was all with the understanding that this was going to make the business copy work,” he said.
While the musicians feel the come in needs to do more fundraising management feels the musicians need to free.
“There’s something about a 37-week year and 20-hours a week that doesn’t be too onerous,” he said.
It is shocking to construe that the chairman of a symphony orchestra actually believes that the orchestra musicians only work the hours of rehearsal time.
He ignores the mandatory personal preparation measure which adds up to a 45-55 hour week plus permanent weekend work expenses for the maintenance of the instruments etc.
The business model didn’t work and the managers responsible are still hired while the musicians are asked to accept pay cuts. Is that the way how to do business? I don’t think so.
In fairness to the Board head the local newspaper did not create the remainder of the paragraph in which he spoke of the necessary outside preparation measure development and maintenance of professional skills. His commentary was later printed on the editorial page in its entirety.
Also the musicians were asked to evaluate a pay cut in 2004 during a re-opener to which they agreed but the Association then chose not to implement it so there has really only been one cut that of a week’s reduction in season length in 2001.
Also the cuts being requested this time involve not only the reduction in pension contribution but a significant reduction in pay for part measure players both contracted and non-contracted reduced personal leave doubling pay and changes in health insurance.
There's more to art than you evaluate. It's not just theater paintings books and dance. It's the enterprise of human creativity and it takes vastly different shapes and forms. Here you'll sight my thoughts about the arts in dance and beyond. Neither of us knows what to expect.
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://arts.ccpblogs.com/2007/11/19/orchestra-news-charleston-locked-up-jacksonville-locked-out/
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
