In Monday’s (8/27) Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ernie Suggs reports, “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. … 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,’ Williams said. … Clouding the negotiations is the ASO’s $20 million budget deficit.”
Posted August 27, 2012
