“The Fort Worth Symphony and its musicians reached agreement Friday night on a one-year deal, albeit a temporary fix, that averts the threat of a strike and keeps the orchestra making music,” reports Michael Granberry in Friday’s (1/29) Dallas Morning News. “Symphony musicians released this statement around 8 p.m. Friday: ‘Withdrawing their threat to impose pay cuts of 8.7% last Monday, management has agreed to immediately return to bargaining a new agreement and maintain 2014-15 wages and working conditions through July 31, 2016.… But this isn’t the end—we continue to fight for the growth of this orchestra.’ … Management had threatened to impose the pay cut after noting that the orchestra faces mounting deficits. But their offer to rescind the pay cut paved the way for the temporary respite. Symphony president Amy Adkins said last week that the orchestra’s deficit hovered close to $650,000 and that the two sides were $4 million apart.… But at least they’ve agreed to keep talking—and making music.” The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association and the Musicians’ Union will resume negotiations for a successor contract on a mutually agreed-upon date in the near future.
Posted February 1, 2016
Fort Worth Symphony photo by Jeffery Washington
