Klarinet Archive - Posting 000523.txt from 1997/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Prof. Musician: Employee or Contract Labor
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 14:58:12 -0400

This is a problem that is prevelent throughout the U.S......we have a
similar situation in the Peoria Symphony Orchestra in Peoria, IL...except
that the 1099 and W-2 forms are never made available!

We are making a stong effort to convince everyone that they should
unionize. Quite frankly, if only a few are union, the management can do
what they like - literally. Once everyone is union, the threat of a
strike if negotiations are not initiated usually helps move the process
along. While a strike is not advised, the threat of a strike is what
keeps the management looking at the orchestra members' side of things.

There are probably other solutions that others on the listerv can come up
with, but this is how we are choosing to handle it.

Good luck!

Roger Garrett

On Wed, 10 Sep 1997, Robt. Walzel wrote:

> I play in the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, an orchestra with about an
> $850,000 budget and a season of about 60 services. We are not a union
> orchestra, as there is no music union in Lubbock. However, there are about
> 6 or 8 musicians, including myself, who belong to locals in other cities.
> Our symphony management in their infinite ignoranace tries to save itself
> money by declaring musicians as contract labor rather than employees. Each
> year they issue us 1099 rather than W-2 income tax statements. By doing
> this, they avoid having to withhold tax from our checks and avoid having to
> make employer contributions to Social Security.
>
> Needless to say, the musicians of our orchestra do not think this is fair.
> Is there anyone on the list who can share some insight on how we might
> proceed to have this practice changed by our management. Any other
> experience dealing with this issue would also certainly be appreciated.
>
> Thanks! Bob Walzel
>
> Robert Walzel
> Texas Tech University School of Music
> PO Box 42033 Lubbock, TX 79409-2033
> ph#806-742-2270 FAX#806-742-2294
>
>
>