“Fort Worth Symphony musicians staged a sit-in at symphony offices near Bass Hall on Thursday,” reports Andrea Ahles in Friday’s (3/25) Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX). “Symphony management and union representatives … had agreed to additional meetings over the next two weeks. However, the meetings were canceled without being rescheduled, said the American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147, which represents the 80 musicians. … The parties last met March 9. Symphony President Amy Adkins said management simply postponed the meetings and planned to send almost a dozen possible new meeting dates to the union by Friday.… ‘We have every intention of returning to the bargaining table at our earliest opportunity,’ ” said Adkins.… Management and the union have been negotiating since June and have been far apart on musicians’ salaries. In January, management had proposed an 8 percent pay cut, largely through the reduction of paid time off, and the union had authorized a strike as talks stalled. After several tense weeks, the parties reached an agreement to keep the musicians’ contract terms the same through July 31 while negotiations continued. The symphony has posted annual operating deficits for several years and the two sides have been far apart on wages and benefits.”
Posted March 29, 2016
