Atlanta Symphony Contract Dispute

[tbn.al]

The Atlanta paper today ran an interview with Douglas Hertz the chairman of the Woodruff Arts Center board of which the ASO is a part. I can't give you a link because you have to have a subscription to get in. I will copy and paste the last portion of the interview. I think this illustrates how far apart the two sides, businessmen vs musicians, really are. He also has some rather pointed verse directed at the conductors. I fear for the worse.

On feedback from the musicians, seconded by Spano and Runnicles, that management controlling the number of full-time players would destroy the ASO’s sound: “Well, it’s my impression that our symphony orchestra got the same artistic reviews over this past year as they have had in previous years. We had 116 separate musicians that played with our orchestra (who were) not part of our (88-musician) complement — 116 additional musicians who sat in just last year. Yet no one’s told me that artistically that we were any better or worse.”

On music director Robert Spano showing support for the musicians when maestros are typically neutral in labor disputes: “Again, we’re criticized for not wanting a great symphony, right? But we signed Robert to a five-year contract (that’s just beginning) with a raise. And Robert’s getting paid. And we signed (principal guest conductor) Donald Runnicles to a three-year contract. He’s getting paid. So don’t criticize WAC management or the WAC governing board for not wanting to put our money where our mouth is. Maybe Robert’s feeling a little bit guilty because he’s getting paid and the musicians aren’t. But he could be a big help in solving this.”

On how Spano could help: “Ideas (for developing a more sustainable model for the ASO). Encouragement of the musicians to come back and talk. But he hasn’t been particularly constructive to this point.”

On the governing board’s fiduciary responsibility to all four Woodruff divisions: “We’ve got a division of the arts center that threatens the ability of the other divisions (the Alliance Theatre, High Museum of Art and Arts for Learning) to produce the great work that they’re doing. We owe it to everybody to make sure that everybody is pulling their weight.”

On if he’s concerned that negative coverage of the lockout will set back fund-raising in the long run: “Sure, I mean if it lasts too long it will. (But) a contract ended. We lost over $2 million (in fiscal 2014). Don’t forget, when you have earned ticket revenues of only $5 million and have salaries and benefits just for the musicians of $10 million to $11 million, you’re losing money from the very beginning. …

“Every day, we lose money.”

[bisontuba]

Hi-
The above excerpts from the article are very troubling...it founds like a very weak BOD that doesn't understand the industry.....
Mark

[windshieldbug]

Don't know what contract negotiations YOU'VE been to lately, but the ones I know involve a shrinking pie, boards not feeling the need to provide much of anything for their community, and musicians who are not feeling ENTITLED, but think that, for the communitie's sake that there should be SOME DISCUSSION about what level and type of culture should be provided for the citizens. I don't know of ANYONE who thought they were granted any level of employment security. Even in the good ol' days a musician with tenure could be fired for cause.

The sooner this us v. them mindset stops, the sooner orchestras can be "right sized" in both personnel, services and programming.

[windshieldbug]

No, but if the goal of the organization is not to provide value to some group besides itself, then I question the continued existence of such a "non-profit". What you are describing is a group of casual amateurs who pick up their marbles and go home after their done holding their breath and turning blue.

[bort]

Depends what country you move to... where did he go?

[tbn.al]

Both sides have finally agreed to have a federal mediator in their discussions. Mediation starts tomorrow. I know very little about the process but I have hope that this is the beginning of something good. This is the same mediator that helped end the Met Opera's contract standoff.

http://artsculture.blog.ajc.com/2014/10 ... g-tuesday/" target="_blank" target="_blank

[tbn.al]

The talks have stalled over the size of the orchestra. More of the season in jeopardy. See the link for more.

http://artsculture.blog.ajc.com/2014/10 ... stra-size/" target="_blank

[bisontuba]

Tentative settlement...FYI..Mark

http://www.thestreet.mobi/story/1294653 ... en=RSSFeed" target="_blank

[tbn.al]

Whoopee! Thanks Mark, I hadn't seen this.

[tbn.al]

All patrons got this email today, and reading the article in the paper this morning it looks like the musicians got about everything they initially asked for. Makes you wonder what management was thinking in the first place. A member of the ASO board who resigned right after the lockout was quoted as saying, "This could all have been avoided. The lockout should never have happened. There were better ways to solve these problems"

[bisontuba]

Let's hope that lock-outs like this virtually never occur, and lock-outs of Washington popularity-contest-winners and bureaucrats by The People begin occurring - and with great frequency.

Hillary will fix all in a couple of years...
Mark