Monday (4/1) on the Minnesota Public Radio website, Euan Kerr writes, “Saying they have fulfilled a promise made to Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, musicians of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra this evening voted to reject management’s latest contract offer. The contract proposal, which came together after Mayor Coleman intervened in an attempt to save the rest of the orchestra’s season, broke SPCO management’s long-stated requirement that it save $1.5 million a year from the last musicians contract. The offer includes a base annual salary of $60,000, up from the last offer, but still a cut of more than $15,000 from the previous contract … In a statement released this evening the musicians described the vote as non-binding and non-ratifying, and also said musicians believed that even if they had wanted to approve the proposal, they couldn’t. The statement continues: ‘The proposal could not be submitted for a formal ratification vote because the entire contract is contingent upon the Society reaching agreement with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) on electronic media issues, and the proposal requires the Local Union and the Musicians to agree to matters which must first be bargained with the AFM.’ … Management has said it is willing to remove those references as requested. The musicians say they hope to keep talks going with management, although no sessions are currently scheduled.”
Posted April 2, 2013
