Tentative Seattle Agreement and Summit Live Blogging Day 2

The Seattle Symphony and their musicians have reached a tentative agreement. The new agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the musicians, will last 23 months over the course of three seasons and contains some very unique elements (although not entirely unprecedented for the Seattle Musicians). As I’m invovled with the American Orchestra Summit Day 2  (I’ll post Twitteresque updates again through the day if possible) and giving a lecture/Q&A session to students in the Arts Enterprise @ UM tonight, here are a few links for more info. Last Updated 11:10am… (more…)

Initial Details Of The Cleveland Settlement

Although comprehensive details in the form of the final agreement language won’t be available for a few weeks or more, some aspects of the new agreement have been made public. Based on information included in a press statement, here’s what can be discerned:

• Length: 9/2009 (retroactive) – 8/2011; or the 2009/10, 2010/11, and 2011/12 seasons.
• Compensation: Freeze for the first two years, then a 3% raise in the first half of 2011/12 and an additional 2% raise in the last half.
• Musicians will not have increased medical insurance premiums (this point was updated @ 9:12am CT).

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BREAKING NEWS: Cleveland Strike Concluded

After a marathon negotiation session that started on Monday, 1/18/2010 at 12:00 noon and lasted until nearly 7:00am the following morning, the Cleveland Orchestra and their musicians have reportedly reached a tentative agreement. According to sources inside the organization, the musicians plan to conduct a ratification meeting at 2:00p.m. ET, today (1/19/2010). Furthermore, a portion of the Indiana University residency will continue as originally scheduled and additional details will follow as they are made available.

Updates In Seattle

It was an eventful weekend for stakeholders at the Seattle Symphony Orchestra (SSO) as the ensemble crossed the latest benchmark in their ongoing labor dispute. On Sunday 1/17/2010, the musicians unanimously rejected a contract proposal from management and although they have already passed a strike authorization, the musicians have stated that they do not plan to initiate any work stoppage at the present time… (more…)

Come On Cleveland, You’re Better Than This

Regular readers know that when we talk about orchestras and new media, one recurring warning is to resist the urge to use new media outlets for press release regurgitation. After all, that’s what press pages at an orchestra’s web site are for. Likewise, using the official organizational new media and social networking outlets to disseminate one-sided information about an ongoing labor dispute is not merely bad form, but ultimately self defeating…
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Cleveland And Seattle: With Bated Breath

As the orchestra business watches Cleveland and Seattle with bated breath, it is difficult to wonder if events at these two larger budget organizations will have any impact on the business as a whole. And it isn’t just insiders who are paying attention, music critics, cultural reporters, bloggers, and just about any other stakeholder with a social media account is wondering aloud how events will unfold… (more…)

A Worthwhile Concessionary Agreement Part 2

Part 1 in this set of articles examined the concept of board atrophy, a general deterioration of board stewardship, and how it is impacting an orchestra’s fundraising performance amidst the economic downturn. For the most part, this is every bit as serious a threat to the future of orchestras as the actual economic downturn. Today’s installment is going to examine a recent concessionary agreement at the Utah Symphony & Opera (US&O) that contains provisions designed to combat board atrophy… (more…)

Negotiation News From Indianapolis

According to a 9/11/2009 press release issued by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Committee, the musicians rejected a final offer from the management of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO). The ratification vote came a week after the ISO announced a list of guest conductors replacing former ISO music director, Mario Venzago, for the 2009/10 season… (more…)

Let’s See If Recent Changes Can Shake Things Up In Shreveport

It’s been a few months since we checked in with things at the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO) but suffice to say, the mission based schizophrenia issues remain unchanged (details here) as does the organization’s webpage which continues to display a pops event that took place on May 21, 2009. What has changed is the organization’s executive director… (more…)

Mission Accomplished?

It has been a little while since we checked in on the situation brewing at the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and since both parties involved in the dispute have recently issued statements; it is high time for an update. If you’re not already familiar with previous events, here is what has happened so far… (more…)

Details from the WCO Settlement

Over the course of 2009 Take A Friend To Orchestra month, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) reached a settlement; however, news reports have not focused on the agreement’s details. But since this is a negotiation we’ve been following for several months, it seems appropriate to examine some of those details, especially those sticking points that kept the agreement out of reach for so long… (more…)

Point-Counterpoint In Madison

The musicians of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) issued a press release on 3/26/2009 announcing plans to picket WCO offices at 3:00p.m. CT and then move to the state Capitol to protest WCO Board tactics throughout their prolonged contract negotiations. Details of recent events in those negotiations and reasoning behind the latest round of offers have finally been made available… (more…)