9 in 10 Philadelphia players reject ‘final’ deal
NewsThe latest from America’s deteriorating pay dispute. This is the union take:
Eighty-one of 89 voting musicians rejected the proposal
On Saturday night, the musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra voted overwhelmingly to reject their management’s second “final offer” for a new collective bargaining agreement. Ninety-one percent voted against the deal, which offered less in compensation than the first “final offer” that the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. (“POKC”) presented to the musicians. Compensation has become a primary sticking point during these negotiations, as the Orchestra’s management has failed to present an offer that would even remotely adjust the musicians’ salaries to account for historic inflation.
Once again, Unions destroy from within.
But perhaps management intransigence is a factor, too. Whatever the rights or wrongs of this dispute, the prospects for the players seem fairly bleak: continue working for steadily inflation-eroded remuneration or get chucked out on the street. I don’t suppose there are too many alternative employment opportunities for a horde of redundant musicians in Philadelphia or, indeed, anywhere else in Pennsylvania – a fact that I’m sure the orchestra’s management is exploiting to the full in its ‘negotiations’.
Apparently you’ve never been in a position where negotiating with your employer would have been futile, without the benefit of collective strength.
It’s time for Yannick to
Make a move. This is a great orchestra and they deserve to get paid well. Audience will buy tickets. Pay your orchestra
Ah yes, the Heldendirigent theory again. Get a more glam conductor and ticket sales at sufficiently high prices, plus lucrative recording contracts, will more than pay these musicians the high salaries they deserve.
I don’t think this is going to happen. The market just isn’t there any more.
Yes it is. This orchestra is fabulous and the lack of imagination and creativity in management makes me cringe. Money in and money out, just find a way to get more money in……………….it’s a business and always was.
Just find a way to get more money in. Easy as pie.
If it was that easy, this wouldn’t be happening. As I’ve said ad nauseum, the Philly market is not a good one for an elite orchestra at this point. The local major corporations don’t support the orchestra to the extent that those in Pittsburgh and I’m sure a number of other cities do. They’ve lost much of their cash flow from China due to Covid and deteriorating relations between the U.S. and China. And they don’t come that close to regularly selling out their hall.
The people who think it should be easy to solve this situation by just conjuring up enough money to cover everything simply have no clue in this instance.
Yannick has already shown solidarity with the PO’s musicians by wearing their blue t-shirts.
The move to the Kimmel was the beginning of the end. The huge losses in pension benefits, and historic cuts just some years ago to one of America’s former jewels, now wafting the last fumes of the Ormandy legacy. This management is a Death Star.
Just to be clear the Kimmel is a vast improvement sonically over the Academy of Music, however I don’t think you were criticizing acoustics………….
Unfortunately no inflation in classic music audience…
It won’t be long till the “next door” community orchestra is just as good as the brand name, old world orchestras. The only difference is salary amounts. fight on philly. Good luck!
Sadly for Philadelphia, this spells the future demise of the Philadelphia Orchestra. They are well paid for that market as it is.