Category: Negotiations

Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Call Strike

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.

After years of cuts and irresponsibly refusing to bargain further, the future of the FWSO is now at stake. The Musicians continue to call on Management to return to the bargaining table in the interest of coming to an agreement and ensuring the orchestra’s very existence.

“We want our audiences and the citizens of Fort Worth to know how much we regret that we are forced to take this extreme step,” said bassist and member of the musicians’ negotiating committee, Julie Vinsant. “We call on our management to come back to the table so that we can continue providing great music for our great city. We are very thankful for your continuing steadfast support.”

Musicians Vote To Reject Agreement with Fort Worth Symphony Management

9/5/2016

Sunday evening, the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, represented by American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147, voted to reject a concessionary contract offer from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association.

The rejected 4 year agreement included substantial cuts in annual income for the musicians in its first three years – ranging from a 7.5% cut in year one to a 2% cut in year 3. By the fourth year of the agreement, musicians’ income would still be more than 5% below what the musicians earned in 2010.

Last Wednesday, after 14 months of nearly continuous negotiations and 4 days with a federal mediator, the musicians' negotiating team had reached a tentative agreement on this offer as a last ditch effort to reach an agreement with management. “It was not until these last sessions in mediation that management started to make any meaningful movement away from the nearly 9 percent cuts they have been demanding for over a year. We worked diligently in mediation so that we could recommend to our musicians the best deal management would offer,” said Local Union President Stewart Williams.

But on Sunday the musicians stood together and voted a resounding “no” for continued cuts to their beloved orchestra. This vote adds to the refrain of what the musicians have been repeating now for over a year: Growth, not cuts for the Symphony and for Fort Worth.

The musicians call on Symphony management to resume talks immediately, and have offered to meet on Labor Day. A strike authorization vote has been scheduled for Wednesday.

negotiations update

6/30/2016

After more than one year and twenty-nine bargaining sessions, the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, represented by the American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147, have still not reached a contract agreement with the Symphony management. On June 15, the musician’s negotiation committee presented a comprehensive package that reduced their previous proposal by more than $1.5 million. Yesterday, the symphony management presented a proposal for a three year contract that demands average cuts of 8.8% per year to the musician’s salaries. Yesterday the musicians proposed federal mediation and management accepted the musician’s offer. The schedule for mediation has not been set.

In 2010, the FWSO musicians accepted a 13.5% pay cut to help the orchestra through difficult economic times. Since then, the musicians have regained only 5% of their lost wages. The FWSO management has been demanding additional cuts since June of 2015 despite a North Texas economy that has increased by 35% in the last decade. Under management’s current proposal, FWSO musicians would earn $20,000 less than the average for full time orchestra musicians in the United States. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians recently agreed to a two year contract that increases their wages by 3% each year. On average, DSO musicians earn $42,000 more yet perform almost as many as 50 fewer concerts each year than their counterparts in Fort Worth.

In late January an agreement was reached to extend the terms of the 2015 contract. The contract expires on July 31. Talks are scheduled to resume on July 19.

RESPONSE TO THE ASSOCIATION'S UPDATE ON NEGOTIATIONS AND FAQ

6/30/2016

The Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra have learned that the FWSO management has created an Update and Frequently Asked Questions page about our contract negotiations on the FWSO website. Unfortunately, this page includes many errors and misconceptions. We have compiled a list of facts that address these errors. Read it here.

We've Got Mail

6/28/2016

As the community learns more about our contract negotiations, many people have begun actively stating their support for the musicians. The following are some letters that have been sent to the FWSO Board and Management:

Letter of support from Meena Shah
Letter of support from Jeff Kissell
Letter of support from Juan Barbarin-Castillo
Letter of support from Karen Schnackenberg
Letter of support from Gerald Thiel
Letter of support from Jean Hadley
Letter of support from Lucy Lee
Letter of support from Richard Stieber
Letter of support from Susan and Phil Hoskins
Letter of support from Julie Wildridge
Letter of support from Charlotte Sassman

Many letters from supporters have been published to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's "Letters to the Editor". Visit the We've Got Mail page to read them all. We are very grateful for this support. Keep 'em coming! You can email Julie Vinsant if you'd like to share a letter.

ORCHESTRA MANAGEMENT WANTS TO CUT SEASON, DOUBLE HEALTH CARE COSTS

5/6/2016

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) management proposed this week to more than double musicians’ health care costs, and further reduce the season’s length from 46 to 42 weeks.

“This is just more of the same—management’s proposal would slash our annual salaries to 2003 levels,” said Ed Jones, a tuba player in the orchestra for 15 years. “Although management proposed a tiny increase in our weekly pay, the cuts to the season would mean that I lose over $5,000 a year in wages--with my health care premiums more than doubling.”

Orchestra members, whose base salary is currently $55,000 per year, took a 13.5% pay cut in 2010, saving the orchestra over $2.3 million to help with the bottom line.

“Management had 6 years in a growing economy to solve their financial problems,” said FWSO cellist Shelley Jessup. “Balancing the budget on the backs of the musicians is wrong. We’ll keep fighting for a fair contract that promotes growth, not cuts.”

Contract negotiations continue on May 19 and May 31. The Fort Worth Symphony’s collective bargaining agreement expires on July 31.

FWSO MANAGEMENT IS BACK TO DEMANDING PAY CUTS

4/18/2016

After refusing for over a month to bargain over wages, Fort Worth Symphony management admitted on Friday that their threat to cut musicians’ pay by almost 9% still stands

Musicians say that management is acting in bad faith.

“Our last proposal moved by over half a million dollars. Management’s economic proposal hasn’t changed since October. What’s wrong with this picture?” said Julie Vinsant, a double bassist in the orchestra.

Management’s admission of their position comes after musicians offered a comprehensive proposal, including wages, on March 9. For a month, management failed to bring a proposal of any kind—and cancelled 3 scheduled negotiations without giving alternate dates.

In January, musicians and management signed a temporary agreement that forestalled a possible strike with the understanding that FWSO leadership would quickly return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.

“Management is missing in action,” said FWSO violist Scott Jessup. “Instead of bargaining, we see cancelled negotiations and a refusal to discuss fundamental issues. Instead of fundraising, we see excuses. Instead of accountability, we see broken agreements, finger-pointing and games at the bargaining table.”

Management’s financial proposal, unchanged since October 2015, would cut salaries back to 2003 levels—after musicians took a 13.5% pay cut in 2010 to help with the bottom line.

Last week, FWSO musicians stood on-stage and unveiled over 4,500 signatures supporting “growth, not cuts”, from FWSO patrons, donors, students, and Fort Worth businesses. They vowed to continue their fight.

In a speech, Jessup said “we will not accept any more excuses from management”, adding “we will not accept that Fort Worth doesn’t deserve a world class orchestra.”

STATEMENT ON NEGOTIATIONS

4/8/2016

On Friday, April 8, musicians from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra met with management for the second time since agreeing on a contract extension in January. That agreement averted a possible strike with the understanding that FWSO leadership would return to the bargaining table ASAP.

Musicians offered a comprehensive proposal including economic issues on March 9. For a month, management failed to bring a proposal of any kind—and cancelled 3 scheduled negotiations without giving alternate dates. Following is the musicians’ statement on today’s negotiations.

Statement from Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Today we reached tentative agreement with orchestra management on a small number of items, but once again management refused to present a comprehensive proposal, refused to discuss any major economic issues, and refused to commit to a time when they will.

We are ready to get this done, but we need a willing partner. Management’s failure to bring an economic proposal is reckless, irresponsible and a dereliction of duty.

Balancing the budget on the backs of the musicians is wrong. We call on management to bargain now—bargain in good faith, for a fair contract that promotes growth, not cuts.

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