This month I thought I’d share a snapshot of a contract negotiation that hasn’t gone very well. This series of news stories from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and postings from the Fort Worth Symphony Association (FWSOA), the Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony, and an online petition from a local “Growth Not Cuts” campaign should make for an interesting discussion as you dive into Chapter 7, “Human Resources and the Arts.”
I think there is real value in exploring the differences in how each side articulates their position. If you are feeling ambitious, you could use this dispute to carry on a mock negotiation in class.
In a nutshell, the Ft Worth Symphony Association makes its case that fiscal constraints shaped the offer for the latest contract. The FWSOA indicated a $700,000 deficit is looming. The contract with the musicians would have reduced the number of paid weeks from 46 to 43 in the first two years, with an increase to 44 weeks in the last two years. Paid vacation days would have been reduced from 42 to 35 for the four years of the contract. Wages were to be frozen in the current year. More details about the contract offer are available on the FWSO website.
The musicians countered by stating the FWSO is demanding they take an 8.7% pay cut, and they stressed they (the musicians) took at 13.5% cut in 2010 to help keep the orchestra solvent. They point out ticket sales are up, and they said they offered to take a one-year wage freeze while management sorts out how to, “develop a credible plan to grow the orchestra.” Meanwhile, an online petition and local demonstrations are going on under the banner of “Growth Not Cuts.”
Eventually, some resolution to the contract dispute will be reached. When that happens, I’ll post an update so you can see how the negotiations played out.
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Ft. Worth Symphony Labor Dispute
Fort Worth Symphony cancels concerts through Nov. 6
BY Andrea Ahles – aahles@star-telegram.com – September, 23, 2016
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra canceled more concerts on Friday as the musicians’ strike enters its third week.
Symphony management said it has canceled shows at Bass Hall including The Beat Goes On: Music of the Baby Boomers concert scheduled for Oct. 14-16 and the Elgar’s Enigma Variations concert scheduled for Nov. 4-6. A family concert in Southlake titled Halloween with Harry Potter has also been canceled.
“This was a difficult decision made after careful deliberation with the FWSOA executive committee, and was made to give our artists, regional presenters, venues, and vendors ample time to make alternative plans,” symphony president Amy Adkins said. “Our biggest regret is that we are unable to provide our devoted patrons with the experience of live symphonic music.”
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra cancels more concerts as strike continues
BY Andrea Ahles – aahles@star-telegram.com – September 14, 2016
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra announced two more concert cancellations Wednesday as a strike by its musicians continues.
Although performances with the Texas Ballet Theater this weekend in Dallas will go on as scheduled, thanks to an arrangement made with the striking musicians, symphony management said it is canceling the “Music of David Bowie” concert on Sept. 24 and a free concert at Arborlawn United Methodist Church on Sept. 25. The church concert was to feature the symphony’s 2016 young artist competition winner, cellist Sai Sai Ding.
http://www.star-telegram.com/living/article101840607.html?mc_cid=859fb66cc0&mc_eid=1a1932085a
Texas Ballet Theater strikes new deal with Fort Worth symphony musicians
BY Mark Lowry – Special to the Star-Telegram – September 9, 2016
Texas Ballet Theater has no plans to dance without live orchestral music next weekend.
For its season-opening performances Sept. 16-18, the dance company had been planning to perform with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra on a program that included two premieres. It had been highly touted as the orchestra’s first time to play in the Winspear Opera House in Dallas and Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya’s first time to conduct such a collaboration.
Striking Fort Worth Symphony musicians picket under the Bass Hall angels Thursday afternoon after contracts broke down with symphony management.
Striking Fort Worth Symphony musicians picket under the Bass Hall angels Thursday afternoon after contracts broke down with symphony management. David Kent dkent@star-telegram.com
Then the orchestra musicians went on strike Thursday. Management canceled this weekend’s symphonic concerts at Bass Hall.
So Texas Ballet Theater worked out a unique contingency plan: The company will still use the striking musicians to accompany the ballet performances, but the musicians will perform under the name Symphony Musicians of Fort Worth. Harth-Bedoya will conduct as planned.
Background on FWSO musicians’ strike: What went wrong
BY Andrea Ahles – aahles@star-telegram.com – September 9, 2016
Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra went on strike Thursday afternoon, forcing symphony management to cancel this weekend’s concert series.
Members of the musicians union picketed outside Bass Hall until after 9 p.m. Thursday. This morning, they’re also marching on the sidewalk surrounding the Maddox-Muse Center — home of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra management offices — across the street from the performance hall. They carry signs declaring they are on strike and wear green T-shirts that read “Growth not Cuts.”
At issue is the musicians’ labor contract. Management and the union have been in federal mediation since July and in contract negotiations for more than 15 months.
The orchestra employs 65 full-time musicians with an average salary of $62,000 and health benefits. A proposed contract that musicians rejected earlier this week included a significant pay cut in the first year and then small, incremental pay raises in the following three years. By the fourth year, the pay increases would have resulted in principal players being paid more than $70,000 a year.
http://www.star-telegram.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article100850167.html
And from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s Website
FROM: Mark G. Nurdin, Chairman, FWSOA Executive Committee, and Amy Adkins, President of Forth Worth Symphony Orchestra Association
Dear FWSO Patron,
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association (FWSOA) would like to thank you – our patrons and ticket holders – for your continued, loyal support. The past weeks and months have been challenging for all of us who love the FWSO and how it enhances our wonderful city.
In the spirit of transparency, we are sharing these details of our extensive negotiations with the musicians’ Union. The FWSOA bargained in good faith for more than 15 months, with 34 negotiation sessions and federal mediation.
August 31, 2016 – Through federal mediation, the FWSOA reached a tentative agreement with the Union and musicians’ negotiating committee for a new contract for FWSO musicians. The contract would have covered four years ending July 31, 2020, and was unanimously recommended for ratification by the musicians’ negotiating committee.
September 4, 2016 – The tentative agreement was rejected by the musicians.
September 7, 2016 – A negotiating session took place during which the Union and musicians’ negotiating committee completely reversed its position, demanding three years of pay increases that the Association has no way to fund.
September 8, 2016 – The musicians initiated a strike, causing the cancellation of concerts.
We are disheartened that the musicians rejected the tentative agreement that was reached in good faith, reversed course, and initiated a strike. There is no doubt that we are in the delicate position of wanting to provide our musicians with pay increases, while also being limited by our financial constraints.
For the rest of the posting details go to http://www.fwsymphony.org/hld/contract/
MUSICIANS OF THE FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CALL STRIKE
LINK – http://www.fwsomusicians.com/ – 9/8/2016
As of 12:30 today, after the second rehearsal for the opening Subscription concert of the 2016-17 Season, the Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) and their representatives from the American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147, have officially called a strike.
Management issued its last, best and final offer yesterday morning when musicians met to resume negotiations. The musicians had come with plans to bargain, but were met with the same exact offer which the musicians rejected four days ago. Management also announced that this final offer would be implemented on Monday, a clear signal that management’s intention was to irresponsibly cease talks.
In 2010 the musicians accepted a 13.5% cut to help face recessionary economic conditions. But today, Fort Worth is one of the most thriving and growing cities in the nation, and ticket sales are on the rise. Reducing the budget has already caused musicians to leave the orchestra at twice the rate of the previous decade, and musicians refuse to agree to more damaging cuts.
LINK: http://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/musicians-of-the-fort-worth-symphony-orchestra-call-strike
Open Letter to the FWSOA
To the management of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra,
We are writing in support of the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra who are vital to our town’s culture and economy. They teach our kids, perform for our families, patronize our businesses, and are an integral part of Fort Worth’s renowned “Cowboys and Culture” way of life.
Some of us are long-time symphony subscribers, some are first-time concert-goers, and others live and work in the area. We are all extremely concerned about the path you are on.
Since September 2015, you have insisted that musicians take an 8.7% pay cut—dragging salaries back to 2003 levels. Going backward is not the Fort Worth way.
Musicians took a 13.5% cut in 2010, saving the orchestra over $2.3 million to help with the bottom line. That was during the recession—but even now you claim you cannot raise more money in our thriving economy.
Balancing the budget on the backs of the musicians is wrong. We stand with the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony, and are ready to act to support them. We call on you to negotiate a fair contract now—a contract promoting growth, not cuts.