Klarinet Archive - Posting 001106.txt from 1998/11

From: KlarBoy@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Seattle Sym Contract News
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 23:39:55 -0500

I thought this might interest some of you.
Mario

from the The Seattle Symphony & Opera Players' Organization web page:

Despite anger over management maneuver,
musicians vote to accept surprise contract condition,
assuring on-time opening of new concert hall
(6/26/98)

In a highly charged, 90-minute meeting, the musicians of the
Seattle Symphony Orchestra this afternoon (June 26) completed the
final step to achieve a new three-year collective bargaining
agreement. Their action paves the way for the September opening of
Seattle's new downtown concert facility, Benaroya Hall.

According to the musicians' Negotiating Committee, the cause of
the conflict that nearly scrapped the agreement was a last-minute
demand by the symphony board that the musicians agree to a
contract variance. The musicians had already voted (on June 15) to
ratify the new contract. But, in a meeting on Wednesday, the board
voted to ratify the new contract only if the musicians would allow
the symphony to hire John Cerminaro as a temporary musician for as
long as Gerard Schwarz is the music director. Cerminaro auditioned
a year ago for the position of principal horn player, but was not
approved by the musicians' Audition Committee. He is presently
performing with the orchestra as guest principal horn player, and
Schwarz has championed his promotion to permanent status.

"We were appalled that the Symphony board and management would
stoop to holding the new contract -- and therefore the concert
hall -- hostage to this provision," said trumpet player Jeff
Bergler, a member of the Negotiating Committee. "It's an
underhanded, dishonorable way to handle the issue, and it has
destroyed the musicians' trust that management can be counted on
to bargain with us fairly. This variance request was unrelated to
our contract negotiations, and we repeatedly asked management to
allow the membership to vote on the request as a separate issue.
They refused.

"Our discussion today was intense; most of the musicians who spoke
were angry and disillusioned. But we voted to not let this issue
stand in the way of opening Benaroya Hall on schedule on September
12."

Fair auditions are essential

Audition procedures are of vital importance to all professional
orchestra musicians; all other Seattle Symphony musicians gain
their jobs through competitive auditions. The procedures are
spelled out in detail in the labor contract. They require that
vacancies be filled through rigorous national auditions in a
series of steps designed to achieve objective evaluation, and to
ensure that the successful applicant is acceptable to both the
music director and the musicians. "Professional musicians hear
different things in playing and in musicianship," explained
Bergler. "That's why the agreement of the Audition Committee and
the music director is critical to successful hiring.

"Ironically, the new contract strengthens the impartiality of the
audition process," Bergler said, "making this one-time variance
all the more bizarre and distasteful."

Contract provisions According to Bergler, "This new agreement will
not bring us to our goal of economic parity with our peers in
comparable orchestras around the country, but it's an important
step in that direction."

Here are key provisions of the contract:

* Contract length: 3 years

* Length of season: 44 weeks the first year, 45 weeks for the
second and third years (current length is 43 weeks)

* Pension: $25,200 per year after 30 years of service

* Weekly section base wage: Currently $1,000. Will be $1,130 in
the first year (13.0% increase); $1,180 in the second year (4.4%);
$1,230 in the third year (4.2%)

* Annual section base wage: Currently $43,000. Will be $49,720
(15.6% increase); $53,100 (6.8%); and $55,350 (4.2%)

* Weekends: Sunday performances are allowed 27 times next season,
to facilitate inaugural events in the new hall, and are then
reduced the following seasons.

Other, lesser improvements were made in contract language
concerning recordings, rehearsals, scheduling, audition procedures
and artistic decisions.

http://seattlesymmusicians.org/nego615.htm#accept

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