Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (Musicians Side)

[David Spies]

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra musicians on strike (BREAKING NEWS):

http://wcomusicians.wordpress.com./" target="_blank

[David Spies]

This post on Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog (http://doublebassblog.org/2008/10/wisco ... trike.html" target="_blank) captures the essence of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Musicians' strike and even refers to the plight of the tubist in the orchestra (which, although performs with chamber orchestra instrumentation, frequently uses full symphonic scoring for programs)--Excerpt from blog follows:

"2. Half pay for subs -As an outsider to the WCO, this point sticks in my craw the most. The per-service rate for non-members is approximately half of what it is for members.

Half!

Maybe subs should only play half the notes…or half right notes and half wrong notes. Is that an equitable arrangement?

I find this kind of pay disparity extremely offensive and disrespectful to both members and non-members. It indicates both that this ensemble doesn’t value the musical contributions of non-members and that it pretty much doesn’t care who fills a vacant chair. I know that the musicians of the WCO don’t have this attitude. As for the management, er, well…..

This amounts to a substantial savings for the WCO when as sub is employed. Since it’s a per-service gig, there’s no time off pay, sick pay, or anything of the sort. There’s therefore no rational justification (outsde of pure greed) for this policy.

This half-pay policy is in effect even for musicians (like the tuba position) who play nearly every concert but play instruments not designated as “member” chairs. Lovely, huh? Makes you feel warm all over about this group, huh? Still wonder why this organization conjures up jeers and sneers in the greater professional musician community?"

[David Spies]

Information about Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Shreveport Symphony on AFL-CIO Blog:

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/10/20/afl-c ... ut-workers" target="_blank

[David Spies]

Update in Today's Wisconsin State Journal:

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/i ... tid=310761" target="_blank

David Spies
Principal Tuba, Racine Symphony Orchestra

[David Spies]

Although this doesn't mean that negotiations are complete, this comes as positive news in the overall scheme of things....

http://77square.com/arts/music/story_313387" target="_blank

[David Spies]

Update as of 11/14/08:

http://www.madison.com/tct/top5/314421" target="_blank

[David Spies]

Here's an update on the WCO Negotiations/Non-Negotiations.

-David Spies
Willson Tuba Quartet

AFM #166 Press Release - 2/27/09

Feb. 27, 2009 Contact: Todd Jelen
NEWS RELEASE Phone: 216-314-2000

WCO Management is Retaliating Against Musicians for Standing up for
Their Legal Rights

One step forward and ten steps back.

That seems to be the trajectory of the long negotiations between the
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and its musicians on Thursday after
management’s negotiators reneged on previously agreed-upon provisions
and submitted new proposals on mileage rates and guaranteed work that
are less than even the last contract.

The strikingly altered proposals made it necessary for the union to
take the new provisions back to the orchestra’s rank and file Thursday
night. “Since this new proposal could significantly affect musicians’
ability to survive, we felt it was necessary and prudent to consult
the musicians before responding,” said Todd Jelen, musicians’
negotiating committee member. “Although they accused us of being
unwilling to bargain, the negotiating committee can’t respond to such
drastic changes without consulting our members.”

Now, instead of 75 guaranteed services, the board’s new contract
proposal slashes those services, and the musicians’ guaranteed salary,
by 40 percent. Those guaranteed services could drop 60 percent if the
board gives the musicians only six months notice. Local 166 of the
American Federation of Musicians is planning to file amended charges
of retaliatory bargaining and bad-faith bargaining against the WCO’s
board.

Even on secondary issues, the board’s newest offer rankles the
musicians. Proposing to lower per-mile travel reimbursements from the
previously negotiated 20-cents-per-mile to only 11 cents-per-mile has
angered Naomi Bensdorf Frisch, a WCO musician who drives 150 miles to
Madison from Chicago. Not only does the proposal lower by almost
50% the agreed-upon rate, but the per-trip reimbursement for most
musicians would be lower than what was in the previous contract. “It’s
an insult to be offered a travel allowance that’s 80 percent below
what the IRS says is the standard mileage allowance,” Frisch said.
“Moreover, 11 cents a mile does not even come close to covering the
costs of gas, tolls, and wear and tear when commuting long distances.
The musicians can’t help but think this is management’s way of
punishing us. It’s as if the board doesn’t want an agreement.”

According to Jelen, the negotiations, which began over a year ago,
have been a “shell game” of submitted and withdrawn proposals by
management. As recently as the end of January, the sides were close to
an agreement and only had two minor issues remaining. When the
musicians and management were unable to reach a compromise on those
two issues, management responded by taking the entire contract off the
table and threatening regressive proposals and an additional number of
unspecified changes. Finally, management asked that musicians provide
“unqualified assurances” for the February masterworks concert. When
the musicians were unwilling to provide these assurances without
knowing what management planned to offer, WCO management cancelled the
Feb. 27 concert.

The moving finishing line of the negotiations perplexes members of the
negotiating committee too, particularly since WCO management has
insisted they are not experiencing any financial difficulties and
therefore don’t have to provide financial statements to the Union.
According to Jelen, they cite other arts organizations’ recent
cutbacks as the reason for asking for concessions from musicians. “In
this economic climate, if the WCO is truly not experiencing financial
difficulties, they should be doing all they can to preserve as many
performances as they can for the Madison community. If WCO’s finances
are not a factor, why is the WCO in effect denying live music to the
Madison Ballet and Nutcracker patrons? If the changes aren’t
financial, the only conclusion left is that the board is simply trying
to punish the musicians for not agreeing to their earlier
stipulations.”

According to legal counsel for the American Federation of Musicians,
these tactics constitute retaliation in bargaining. In this case, the
union asserts the WCO’s management, by taking away previously
negotiated contract terms, is punishing workers for asserting their
legal rights. The management’s action requiring the musicians to
guarantee services before a binding contract has been signed also
strips the union’s legal right to strike as a counterbalance to the
employer’s power. The union anticipates further National Labor
Relations Board charges alleging the orchestra’s management engaged in
other unfair bargaining practices. These charges will be filed with
the National Labor Relations Board in Milwaukee next week.

--
Elizabeth Marshall
Secretary/Treasurer
AFM Local 166
1005 Quinn Drive
Suite 159
Waunakee, WI 53597-2502
http://www.afm166.org/" target="_blank

[David Spies]

Point-Counterpoint in Madison (Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Update)

http://www.adaptistration.com/?p=4279" target="_blank

[David Spies]

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Local #166 purported to have settled on a contract:

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/artic ... icle=25745" target="_blank

David Spies
Willson Tuba Quartet
Racine Symphony Orchestra
Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble