In Sunday’s (7/10) Philadelphia Inquirer, Peter Dobrin reports, “Players and management of the Philadelphia Orchestra have opted for labor peace—at least for a few weeks. Rather than seeking to abrogate the current contract and impose a new one in bankruptcy court, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association offered musicians an extension on a concessionary contract through Nov. 13. Players, in residence at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, voted Friday to accept the extension, which keeps the base minimum compensation at $2,400 a week, or $124,800 annually (though most players make more, and some much more). This gives both sides more time to reach a long-term deal while the association’s Chapter 11 case continues. It also means this summer’s planned residencies in Montreal and Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and three-week European tour in August and September can proceed without fear of a work stoppage. … Talks between management and musicians have continued with assistance from George H. Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, who has solicited proposals from both sides. The main area of conflict involves not wages or work rules but pensions. In its bankruptcy petition, management is seeking to change its contract with players, and says it would like to change the pension from a defined-benefit to a defined-contribution plan.”
Posted July 11, 2011
