Breaking: Baltimore pays up its musicians’ health care
mainThe board of the orchestra that has locked out its musicians has responded to an international outcry with its first concession:
Baltimore, MD Thursday, June 27, 2019 – The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra today announced that, through generous contributions from members of the BSO Board of Directors and other loyal donors from our Baltimore and Montgomery County communities, medical and dental benefits will be provided for BSO musicians throughout the lockout during the months of July and August 2019.
“The Board of Directors and management greatly appreciate and value the members of our orchestra. This has been an extraordinarily difficult time for the Baltimore Symphony, and we are glad to continue providing health insurance for our musicians during the ongoing negotiations this summer as we work to reach agreement on a new contract,” stated BSO President and CEO Peter Kjome. “We are deeply grateful to members of the Board and other friends of the BSO for supporting this important effort.”
Donors have provided the required resources to continue the benefits, which were due to end on June 30, 2019. Life insurance benefits had already been extended through this period. The BSO is working with its Long-term disability insurance provider in an attempt to extend coverage during the lockout, and musicians already on Long-term disability will continue to receive those benefits.
Mr. Kjome wasted no time in sending an email to BSO donors with this news, also including this statement: “Musician members of the BSO Players Committee, along with representatives of Local 40-453, were aware that efforts were underway by BSO management to ensure that musicians have health, dental, life insurance, and other benefits during the lockout.”
As if being “aware” makes management’s brinkmanship games any less cruel.