“After four weeks of a lockout with no contract negotiations, the leaders and musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra have agreed to federal mediation,” writes Howard Pousner in Friday’s (10/3) Atlanta Constitution-Journal. “The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) announced Friday that it will provide mediation services to both sides starting next week. ‘In response to a joint request from the parties, the FMCS will provide mediation to the orchestra musicians and management with the goal of helping them reach a mutually acceptable resolution to the issues that divide them,’ the Washington-based agency said in a statement. FMCS Acting Director Allison Beck, credited with reaching an accord in collective bargaining agreement negotiations this summer, will lead the agency’s effort. ‘The FMCS has been and remains in contact with the parties,’ the statement continued. ‘Federal mediators will begin meeting with the parties next week. No further information regarding meeting dates will be released at this time.’ … ASO and Woodruff administrators locked out the ASO musicians for the second time in two years on Sept. 7. Concerts for the 70th anniversary season have been cancelled through Nov. 8. Now it will be Beck’s challenge to get the musicians and ASO and Woodruff leaders to agree to a new deal by that date.”
Posted October 6, 2014
