“The Erie Philharmonic has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the union representing its musicians, just in time for opening night Saturday,” writes Erica Erwin in Thursday’s (10/24) Erie Times-News (Pennsylvania). “Union field negotiator Christopher Durham declined to discuss details of the agreement until the musicians vote on the proposal, except to say that it does include wage increases. Durham said he didn’t know when that vote would take place, but that both sides have agreed to stage the opening night concert featuring violinist Gil Shaham as planned. The musicians, represented by the American Federation of Musicians Local 17, earlier this week had given the union’s bargaining committee power to strike if an agreement wasn’t reached.” After the expiration of their previous five-year contract on August 31, the musicians had performed in a September concert as part of citywide festivities commemorating Erie’s role in Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s naval victory in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, as well as an October pops concert at the Warner Theatre. On Saturday, Music Director Daniel Meyer will lead the orchestra’s opening Symphonic Series concert with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and the Brahms Violin Concerto.
Posted October 25, 2013
