“Can no news in the ongoing Atlanta Symphony Orchestra labor dispute be good news? Possibly,” writes Howard Pousner in Friday’s (11/7) Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The two sides met with a federal mediator this week, and the unofficial word is that there was notable progress on Thursday. There are also unconfirmed reports that members of the ASO Players’ Association, the musicians’ union, are being summoned to an informational meeting at an undisclosed location Friday morning. In a lockout that has spanned two months and had its share of twists and turns, it’s dangerous to read the tea leaves. But it’s safe to take as a positive sign that administrative leaders of the ASO and its parent nonprofit, the Woodruff Arts Center, have not cancelled additional concerts to this point. A spokesman for ASO and Woodruff management declined comment on the progress of negotiations late Thursday. A Players’ Association leader said he could not discuss developments Friday morning.… The two sides began discussing a new contract some 10 months ago. When a deal was not reached when the 2012 collective bargaining agreement expired at midnight Sept. 6, management” locked out the players. “No talks were held until both sides agreed to bring in Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services mediators on Oct. 7.”
Posted November 7, 2014
