In Wednesday’s (11/16) Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), Elizabeth Kramer writes, “The Louisville Orchestra’s musicians Tuesday night unanimously rejected the latest contract offer by management. ‘This evening the orchestra found it necessary to vote down the latest contract proposal,’ said Kim Tichenor, chairwoman of the players’ negotiating committee. … The orchestra’s latest written offer was sent to the musicians late Friday. ‘We cannot abide a rewritten collective bargaining agreement that provides absolutely no job security for our members, imposes a debilitating 20 percent pay cut to an already very low salary for 5½ years … and all the while restricts our ability to perform elsewhere,’ said Clara Markham, a long-time orchestra violist. In an earlier development, a hearing in which the Louisville Orchestra is contesting its musicians’ claims for unemployment benefits set for Tuesday was rescheduled for Dec. 2, according to Tichenor. … The orchestra filed a claim with Kentucky’s Office of Employment and Training to have the musicians’ unemployment benefits suspended, insisting that the musicians are on strike and should not be receiving such assistance. The musicians have been without a contract since the previous one expired May 31.”
Posted November 16, 2011
