The Minnesota Orchestra is the latest organization to be locked out due to contractual agreements a few days after the Chicago Symphony had ratified a new three year deal a few days ago. The lockout took place on Monday Oct.1 leading to a protest by members of the orchestra.
The Minnesota Orchestra's five year contract expired a few days ago and the terms the board offer the ensemble were not good enough according to the orchestra.
The board was proposing to cut the annual wages of the musicians to $89,000 from $135,000.
Chairman of the board Jon Campbell said. "We have great respect for our musicians' talents and today is a difficult day. Our organization, however, cannot keep performing on borrowed time."
President of the American Federation of Musicians (AMF) Ray Hair had negative views on the situation in Minnesota and said the affairs were an "ongoing campaign of economic terrorism that management is waging against the musicians of this great orchestra."
The musicians staged a rally to oppose the decision by the board in front of the Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on Monday with many of the orchestras 81 members in attendance.
"This is a very sad day for this organization," said bassist William Schrickel at the rally.
Concerns are building within the musician's camp. Tony Ross a principal cello player for the orchestra talked about the Atlanta's Symphony deal to end their lockout when they accepted a 2.4 million wage cut. Ross who has friends in the orchestra said.
"They feel like their hearts were cut out. I couldn't imagine worse morale."
The Minnesota Orchestra's shows through Nov.25 have been cancelled with nine concerts being affected by the lockout.
© 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
