All-night negotiations over a new contract for musicians
of the Philadelphia Orchestra ended Thursday morning after the session failed
to produce a tentative agreement. Concerts will continue uninterrupted as
negotiators ponder their next moves.
Leaders had hoped a proposal would go to players Thursday
for consideration at a vote Monday. While no agreement was reached, some
parameters of a deal appeared to be falling into place.
Management is offering a raise in base salary as of Dec.
1 of less than 3 percent, to $2,472 per week from $2,400.
To recover at least partially from a cut in the size of
the orchestra several years ago, the membership would be increased by one
player, to 96 (plus two librarians). Health-care and dental plans would undergo
some adjustments.
The pact would run just one year - rather than the usual
three or four - while arts consultant Michael M. Kaiser, chairman of the DeVos
Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, prepares a
strategic report that would examine fund-raising, endowment, and other issues
that musicians argue are sorely in need of attention.
But several impediments to a deal remain, including one
involving Kaiser's report. Management has resisted the idea of sharing the
findings with musicians, according to two sources familiar with negotiations.
"The biggest sticking point is, they don't want to show us his
report," said one, asking not to be named. "We were really close
twice last night, and then it sort of fell apart."
Other issues involve the number of "buckets" of
free overtime that players grant to management, and the question of whether
management will pay certain expenses for players who want to delay their return
from a China tour.
Asked to speak with a member of management, a
Philadelphia Orchestra Association spokeswoman said in an email, "It's
important that we continue toward a contract that will reward our truly
outstanding musicians while also establishing the kind of financial stability
that assures our long-term future." Management would "not be
discussing any of the specific contract items publicly," she said.
The current deal, which expired Sept. 13, was extended
through Sept. 28 and then continued under a play-and-talk agreement.
Negotiators discussed the terms being floated with the
full orchestra at a meeting Thursday, and the musicians' feedback is expected
to be considered in another round of talks.
"While we do not yet have an agreement, we are
hopeful we will be back at the table soon," orchestra president Allison
Vulgamore said in a memo to the board.
The small increase in base pay being discussed would fall
far short of the lost ground players sought to make up in these negotiations.
The musicians had been scheduled to receive a base-pay raise to $131,000 before
the orchestra filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and deep cuts were instituted.
Source: Philly.com
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