Cleveland Orchestra on strike; Seattle Symphony may be next
It looked all along that the situation with the Cleveland Orchestra would get ugly, and it has.
The players went on strike Monday, a move that threatens an educational residency at Indiana University and concerts in Miami as part of the orchestra's annual residency. One slight bright spot: a bargaining session is scheduled for Monday at noon.
Money, of course, is the main issue -- management, having already gone through its own pay cuts, wants a 5 percent reduction in musician salaries this year, with a return to current level the year after and a 2.5 percent rise the third year. Players countered with an offer of a pay freeze this year. This is going to be a tough PR battle for both sides.
Same out West, where the Seattle Symphony players have authorized a strike; no word yet on when, or if, that threat will be carried out.
Comments
I hope that Baltimore goes forward and strikes. The musicians in Baltimore have already taken between 12 and 18% paycuts: they deserve better. No one has much sympathy for musicians making $50-$100k/year, but we must remember that these are World class musicians in a World class Orchestra. To maintain this, they should be paid better. Symphony management should stop taking advantage of this situation.
Posted by: Baltimore Musicfan | January 18, 2010 4:33 PM
Musicfan, perhaps you didn't realize Tim is talking about the Cleveland Orchestra, not Baltimore. Cleveland musicians' salaries probably start a good deal over 100K. Plus, the organization had their first deficit, of $2 million, since 2005. The Cleveland musicians should take a page from the BSO musicians and be a bit more proactive toward the success of their orchestra. A strike will help no one. I doubt if Cleveland symphony management is taking advantage of anyone. More likely they're trying to keep the organization in the black for the benefit of all. If you do actually want the BSO musicians to go on strike, I question if you truely are a "musicfan."
Posted by: symphonyguy | January 18, 2010 9:00 PM
Maybe a percentage of the income to these major orchestras can be invested with some of the large growth corporations, like FORD. Some of the bonds for these bailed-out companies are pretty good yielding too!
Jane
Posted by: Melanie Jane PIttman | January 19, 2010 10:00 AM
Thank you symphonyguy.
@Musicfan The Baltimore musicians are not the only people who have taken a hit. The administrative staff have taken pay cuts, faced layoffs and two consecutive fiscal years of ten-day furlough. Base staff salaries are no where near $100k.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 19, 2010 10:53 AM