Strike Cancels Chamber Orchestra's Opening Concert
Musicians Went On Strike Wednesday
Updated: 4:40 pm CDT October 3, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Members of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra are on strike and Friday's opening of the WCO's 2008-2009 season will be canceled due to the contract stalemate.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportWISC-TV has learned negotiations between management of WCO and the union for its 34 musicians was nonproductive and produced no new proposals on issues that separate the two sides on the night before their first indoor concert with a guest violinist from Japan.The executive director of the WCO, Doug Gerhart, said Thursday afternoon that there has been no new offers put on the table by either side, and, that "it is hard to imagine" Friday night's concert moving forward without rehearsal at the Overture Center Thursday.That's a key statement because musicians negotiating the new contract say without any new movement on the contract they plan not to rehearse Thursday night and instead picket outside the Overture.Both sides agree lots of issues have been resolved, and the union says they have no significant economic issues to resolve.The sticking points are over mandatory attendance rates, a peer review system for firing musicians, and how proceeds from possible audio recordings are distributed.The part time orchestra musicians rely on other playing and teaching jobs to support their livelihood and said they need to have more flexibility in their attendance clause to make ends meet. The WCO negotiators said they have essentially given the union everything it wants and has already come down on the mandatory attendance rate.The average musician makes around $10,000 to $11,000 a year playing for the WCO.All ticket holders will be notified by phone and or e-mail regarding refunds and exchanges, according to a WCO news release. A pre-concert dinner and post-concert reception were also canceled. According to the news release, all of the food for the pre-concert dinner and the post-concert reception has been donated to local shelters."We are trying to make the best of a difficult situation." Doug Gerhart.According to Todd Jelen, principal bassoon with the orchestra and one of the union negotiators, said the musicians are going to perform at Bethel Lutheran Church at 312 Wisconsin Ave, in Madison at 9 p.m. Friday. The event is free and open to public.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportWISC-TV has learned negotiations between management of WCO and the union for its 34 musicians was nonproductive and produced no new proposals on issues that separate the two sides on the night before their first indoor concert with a guest violinist from Japan.The executive director of the WCO, Doug Gerhart, said Thursday afternoon that there has been no new offers put on the table by either side, and, that "it is hard to imagine" Friday night's concert moving forward without rehearsal at the Overture Center Thursday.That's a key statement because musicians negotiating the new contract say without any new movement on the contract they plan not to rehearse Thursday night and instead picket outside the Overture.Both sides agree lots of issues have been resolved, and the union says they have no significant economic issues to resolve.The sticking points are over mandatory attendance rates, a peer review system for firing musicians, and how proceeds from possible audio recordings are distributed.The part time orchestra musicians rely on other playing and teaching jobs to support their livelihood and said they need to have more flexibility in their attendance clause to make ends meet. The WCO negotiators said they have essentially given the union everything it wants and has already come down on the mandatory attendance rate.The average musician makes around $10,000 to $11,000 a year playing for the WCO.All ticket holders will be notified by phone and or e-mail regarding refunds and exchanges, according to a WCO news release. A pre-concert dinner and post-concert reception were also canceled. According to the news release, all of the food for the pre-concert dinner and the post-concert reception has been donated to local shelters."We are trying to make the best of a difficult situation." Doug Gerhart.According to Todd Jelen, principal bassoon with the orchestra and one of the union negotiators, said the musicians are going to perform at Bethel Lutheran Church at 312 Wisconsin Ave, in Madison at 9 p.m. Friday. The event is free and open to public.
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- October 2, 2008: Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Goes On Strike
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