Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Goes On Strike
Group To Picket Wednesday Evening
Updated: 7:24 am CDT October 2, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- A musicians representative for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra said the group is on strike and will be picketing outside the Overture Center Wednesday night.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportExecutive Director Doug Gerhart confirmed that the musicians are refusing to rehearse Wednesday night.He said it's disheartening but hopes to meet with musicians tomorrow for negotiations.The group has been negotiating a new contract for several months. The current contract expired in August.Members wore red T-shirts and handed out pamphlets at this summer's Concerts on the Square in an effort to raise awareness about their contract disputes. Freelancers receive lower pay than full-time members for the same amount of work.Todd Jelen said there were two final sticking points they could not agree on -- attendance and peer reviews. They're taking issue with the fact musicians could be fired instantly without warning.Friday's concert may not happen -- musicians were told if they went on strike "everything is off the table.""We're still willing to talk to WCO and make an agreement and tonight we're supposed to be in a rehearsal. We hope they can make some kind of an offer that we can accept tomorrow. Maybe we can come back for our dress rehearsal and play the concert," said Naomi Bensdorf Frisch, principle oboe with the orchestra and a member of the negotiating committee, in regard to Friday's concert.The major sticking points include attendance requirments, peer reviews and travel reimbursement, WISC-TV reported.According a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra news release, musicians walked away from a proposal that offered increased wages, a new pension plan, increased guaranteed work, doubled mileage reimbursement, a job security clause, and countless other contract concessions."It is disheartening in these troubled times to have our musicians be unwilling to perform," said Gerhart. "We have been meeting for more than eight months, and have offered wage increases, a pension plan, guaranteed work opportunities, increased meal allowances, decreased attendance requirements, excused absences, a screening committee for auditions, electronic media clauses, and job security provisions," said Gerhart. “It is frustrating to be engaged in a bargaining process where there are no assurances that new concessions will result in a signed contract."
VIDEO: Watch The ReportExecutive Director Doug Gerhart confirmed that the musicians are refusing to rehearse Wednesday night.He said it's disheartening but hopes to meet with musicians tomorrow for negotiations.The group has been negotiating a new contract for several months. The current contract expired in August.Members wore red T-shirts and handed out pamphlets at this summer's Concerts on the Square in an effort to raise awareness about their contract disputes. Freelancers receive lower pay than full-time members for the same amount of work.Todd Jelen said there were two final sticking points they could not agree on -- attendance and peer reviews. They're taking issue with the fact musicians could be fired instantly without warning.Friday's concert may not happen -- musicians were told if they went on strike "everything is off the table.""We're still willing to talk to WCO and make an agreement and tonight we're supposed to be in a rehearsal. We hope they can make some kind of an offer that we can accept tomorrow. Maybe we can come back for our dress rehearsal and play the concert," said Naomi Bensdorf Frisch, principle oboe with the orchestra and a member of the negotiating committee, in regard to Friday's concert.The major sticking points include attendance requirments, peer reviews and travel reimbursement, WISC-TV reported.According a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra news release, musicians walked away from a proposal that offered increased wages, a new pension plan, increased guaranteed work, doubled mileage reimbursement, a job security clause, and countless other contract concessions."It is disheartening in these troubled times to have our musicians be unwilling to perform," said Gerhart. "We have been meeting for more than eight months, and have offered wage increases, a pension plan, guaranteed work opportunities, increased meal allowances, decreased attendance requirements, excused absences, a screening committee for auditions, electronic media clauses, and job security provisions," said Gerhart. “It is frustrating to be engaged in a bargaining process where there are no assurances that new concessions will result in a signed contract." Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
