cleveland orchestra strikes

[alocispepraluger102]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aOJZrM4EzcOM

[ghost of miles]

They were scheduled to do a residency here in Bloomington, starting today and lasting through Wednesday--it's off now, though, due to the contract dispute.

[JSngry]

“We may be considered to be among the best in the world musically, but we are a far cry from being compensated that way or treated that way,” Jeffrey Rathbun, an oboist and chairman of the musicians’ negotiating committee, said in the statement.

Median musician pay in Cleveland in 2009 was $140,200, the orchestra said, which would drop to $134,100 in the first year of a new contract. Benefits include 10 weeks of paid vacation....

The orchestra said in an e-mailed statement that full pay would be restored in the second year of the contract and increase 2.5 percent in the third...

The orchestra’s endowment fell by $27 million, or 22 percent, to $97.2 million in the year ended in June 2009. Foundations and endowments with assets under $1 billion had a median loss of 19.2 percent in that period, according to Wilshire Associates. Donations by corporations and foundations also declined to the orchestra.

Sounds like there's room to negotiate...

[DukeCity]

Tough times for orchestras at all levels these days, I guess. The New Mexico Symphony's contract expired last August, and they went through round after round of negotiations, canceling most of the fall season. The players ended up taking more than a 25% pay cut, and these are musicians who weren't making anywhere near even half of what Cleveland players make.

[AllenLowe]

they pay those guys? They've been playing the same music since 1801.

[John Tapscott]

Best in the world or not, my guess is that $130,000 - $140,000/year in Cleveland would be looked upon as pretty good money by most citizens of that fair city.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

they pay those guys? They've been playing the same music since 1801.

and ta think they get Severance pay everyday, too.

[jeffcrom]

and ta think they get Severance pay everyday, too.

Ouch!

[Bright Moments]

so my wife and i are victims of the strike. i wonder if we will be reimbursed for our $140.00 per seat tickets.

[Chuck Nessa]

That sounds anti union.

[thedwork]

imo, that's disgusting. any musician who isn't satisfied making $140,000 a year w/ 10 weeks paid vacation should have their instrument confiscated and donated to an inner city's school band/orchestra. every member of that orchestra who is whining about how much money they're making can go to hell as far as i'm concerned. assholes.

[JSngry]

Hey, I'm certainly cool with everybody making as much as they can, especially musicians.

And I'm all for labor being able to extract as much for their product as they can in any given marketplace.

But this marketplace for this product at this particular time...

[paul secor]

They have the right to strike and try and get what are asking for. Can't say that I feel sorry for them.

[Bright Moments]

i just got a letter today from the "miami residency director" of the cleveland orchestra thanking me for my support of the cleveland orchestra and stating that as of today the miami events are "proceeding as scheduled" and "ticket buyers should be confident that their purchase is not at risk." The letter also states that "in the event of a work stoppage we will imediately inform you about concert cancellations and rescheduling."

stay tuned.

[Bright Moments]

strike settled - miami concerts on as scheduled!!!

My link

[AllenLowe]

damn...does that mean I'm gonna have to sit through The Nutcracker again?

[Bright Moments]

i went last night - they were terrific!

review