In Monday’s (9/24) St. Paul Pioneer-Press, Ross Raihala writes, “Contract talks between the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra management and musicians once again are at a standstill after the latest round of negotiations ended without a solution in sight. During talks over the weekend, the musicians’ union proposed guaranteed pay of $73,000 for the first two years, with an increase to $77,000 in the third year. They also asked for no change in the size of the orchestra, increased pension contributions in the third year and increased seniority pay throughout the contract. Management, meanwhile, is seeking to drop pay 15 percent, to $62,500 a year, and to reduce the size of the orchestra from 34 players to 28. The cuts are meant to make the organization more financially stable in the wake of reduced funding and a projected $1 million deficit this year, management has said. The musicians’ contract will expire Sunday. … The musicians’ union and management will meet again Saturday for two more days of negotiations. An SPCO spokesperson said she expected the orchestra’s concerts to continue as scheduled.”
Posted September 25, 2012
