Without much of a fanfare, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its musicians failed to come up with a new collective bargaining agreement, leaving them without contracts as the deadline quietly passed Saturday night.
In a statement issued early Sunday morning, after the midnight deadline, and posted on their website, the ASO vowed to keep talks open:
“While the current contract between the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Federation of Musicians expired on August 25, 2012, both parties are continuing to work towards a solution. Negotiations are ongoing. We have some serious budget issues to address but we are all striving for the same thing — a thriving music community.”
But what is unclear at this point is the fate of the 93 musicians.
The musicians — who are full-time employees — had feared that if a deal was not made, they would be locked out without pay and health benefits. ASO president Stanley Romanstein has denied that, but in a letter to the musicians from executive vice president for business operations Donald Fox, he indicated that they had no authority to continue benefits beyond Aug. 25.
Aside from their statement, ASO officials would not comment further Sunday.
In an email, Colin Williams, the spokesman for the musicians, echoed the ASO’s statement that things were moving on.
“Both parties are continuing to work towards a solution,” William said. “Negotiations are ongoing.”
Williams would not comment on whether the musicians still had their benefits or were now on strike or locked out.
A long time subscriber who has been following the talks and sides with the union fears that a work stoppage is looming.
“I think the only way this board will understand is if the musicians go on strike,” said economist and season subscriber Ferdinand K. Levy, the retired dean of the Georgia Tech college of management. “They wouldn’t have their jobs if not for the musicians.”
Since last spring, ASO management and the musicians have been locked in tense negotiations to replace the four-year agreement that expired at midnight Saturday.
Clouding the negotiations is the ASO’s $20 million budget deficit.
Last year, while the orchestra brought in $40 million in revenue, it spent $45 million. Over the past decade, as revenues have increased at least 4 percent a year, expenses have doubled to an average of around 8 percent increase a year over the same time period.
ASO management has sought concessions from the musicians, whose starting base salary is $88,400.
So as part of their negotiations, the ASO management and the musicians have been trying to reach accord on the size of the orchestra, weekly salaries, the length of the season and total compensation packages.
About two weeks ago, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Players Association said it would accept some cuts but felt that management was not sharing in them equally. The association proposed that total musician compensation and staff compensation each be reduced by 11 percent, which they say would have saved almost $5 million over two years.
The orchestra leadership replied that it has already made substantial pay cuts and other cuts in recent years.
As negotiations continue and the scheduled Oct. 4 season opening concert looms, the reputation and credibility of ASO is now at stake.
For Levy and his wife, Marjorie Levy, who have been season ticket holders for 40 years, there is not lot of optimism that the season will start on time. The couple paid $2,300 for season tickets this year, which equates to 48 tickets. That does not include $240 annually for parking.
“My hope is for the players. They deserve what they are asking for,” Marjorie Levy said. “It is extremely upsetting. We were looking forward to the season. I am ready to go hear some music.”
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