“A long and arduous bargaining session between the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and its 77 musicians ended Monday without an agreement,” reads an unsigned Tuesday (9/10) Baltimore Sun article. The two sides had also met for twelve hours on Friday, September 6. “It’s not impossible that a deal could still be reached allowing the musicians to return to Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in time to perform the free public concert scheduled for Saturday. The musicians will vote Tuesday night by electronic ballot whether to accept or reject what the union is terming a ‘take it or leave it’ proposal by BSO management. The results of that vote won’t be known until Wednesday afternoon.” Brian Prechtl, co-chairman of the Players’ Committee, “said the performers won’t attend the rehearsal scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday. They’ll be picketing in front of the Meyerhoff.… The chief barrier to a new contract is management’s demand to shorten the season from 52 weeks to 40, accompanied by a roughly 20 percent pay cut for the performers…. The BSO presented a revised offer to musicians Monday consisting of two options. Both options would leave the season length at 40 weeks…. Management’s proposal also attempts to involve the musicians more in decision-making.”
Posted September 10, 2019
