In Saturday’s (9/29) Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Graydon Royce reports, “Calling management’s latest proposal ‘artistically unsustainable,’ musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra on Saturday unanimously rejected the offer and said they will continue to negotiate through the weekend. ‘We are grateful to members of our board who have worked tirelessly to bring this dreadful lockout to a conclusion. However, this proposal is regressive in nature, leading to a cut in salary of 25 percent,’ said Doug Wright, a member of the musicians’ negotiating team. Board negotiators, in a statement, said they were ‘very disappointed’ in the 60-0 vote by the musicians. … Wright said the proposal ‘will not keep our finest players here’ and ‘will not keep the Minnesota Orchestra a great orchestra, period.’ … Michael Henson, president of the orchestra, said in a statement Saturday afternoon that the board will ‘continue to work toward Sept. 30 as the deadline.’ … Musicians are planning concerts for Friday and Saturday at Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis. Pianist Emanuel Ax, who had been scheduled to perform on the orchestra’s season, has agreed to play with the musicians.”
Posted September 30, 2013
