In Tuesday’s (8/16) Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), Elizabeth Kramer writes, “Now that a federal bankruptcy judge has approved the Louisville Orchestra’s plan to restructure its finances, attention turns to working out a contract with its musicians. In approving the plan and clearing the way for the orchestra to leave the court’s supervision, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David T. Stosberg turned back objections raised by the musicians’ pension plan. … The orchestra, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December, has spent the months since negotiating payment plans with its major creditors and held sometime contentious negotiations with its musicians, whose contract expired May 31. ‘There’s still time to have a season–a full season or a partial season,’ orchestra chief executive Robert Birman said after the hearing. … In court, Birman pledged to negotiate toward a contract with the American Federation of Musicians, but noted the orchestra could pursue agreements with non-union musicians. … Kim Tichenor, a violinist and chair of the players’ negotiating committee, noted that the Orchestra’s season is scheduled to start Sept. 10 and, as of now, the orchestra doesn’t have any musicians on its payroll. … Under the [reorganization] plan, the orchestra will pay in full the $43,486 it owes the musicians’ pension fund. The pension plan and two other creditors voted against the reorganization. Peter J. Young, an attorney representing the American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund, called for the court not to confirm the plan, arguing that the orchestra isn’t viable without a deal with musicians.”
Posted August 16, 2011
