Musicians Union pickets Carnegie Hall
NewsMessage received:
The New York City musicians’ union Local 802 has announced a strike against Distinguished Concerts International New York, a for-profit company that produces concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and that boasts a roster of 257 musicians. A rally with striking musicians and elected officials will take place in front of Carnegie Hall on Monday, Feb. 20 at 6pm.
Not sure what they are striking about. Carnegie Hall is under no obligation to rent its facilities to union-only groups. Anyone can rent a hall. That’s what this organizations apparently does, thereby giving its performers the “bragging rights” of having performed in Carnegie Hall.
There’s another company in New York, Mid America Productions, which operates the same way.
Full disclosure: I have been a card-carrying member of Local 802 since 1971.
The headline is misleading. It’s clear in the content of the article that the musicians are striking against DCINY, not Carnegie Hall. They are a for-profit company that will not fairly negotiate a first contract with the musicians that they have been hiring for over 10 years. You can go to this link to RSVP:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHoe0Le09mRbD2jQ6kC5BAOe-NFxT1WDcgL2PeJy9ceDppTQ/viewform
When you are at the rally, many of the orchestra’s musicians will be happy to fill you in on why they are striking.
It’s just a bit of a misleading headline – they’re not protesting Carnegie hall, they’re on strike and picketing the company, DCINY. That’s just where they happen to be at that time so that’s where it’s taking place. If you’re a member of 802, you will have read about why these musicians are on strike through the coverage of their negotiation process for a first contract over the last three years.
https://www.nycclc.org/news/2023-02/afm-local-802-strike-against-dciny
Larry – this strike is directed against DCINY- not Carnegie Hall. We have no issue with Carnegie Hall at all. It’s simply that that DCINY is performing at Carnegie Hall on February 20, and Local 802 is conducting a rally at that venue in furtherance of the strike against DCINUY. Hope that clears this issue up.
Harvey Mars, Local 802 Recording Vice President
thanks for the clarification
What? They’re striking against DCI, not Carnegie Hall. They perform at Carnegie occasionally, but otherwise Carnegie is not involved.
DCINY has always been a non-union gig that pays… not great. The musicians have organized a strike against DCINY after both parties couldn’t reach an agreement on a contract. Pretty cut-and-dry.
Since you claim to be an 802 member, I’m surprised by your post. 802 isn’t striking CH (with whom they have a good relationship) but DCINY itself which used to employ an orchestra until the orchestra decided to join 802 in a pro-union vote. Since then, DCINY either uses student musicians or keyboard players.
At least MidAmerica Productions hires a full union orchestra for every concert, New England Symphonic Ensemble…
Unfortunately, MidAmerica Productions does not hire a union orchestra, they used to a long time ago. But they do treat their musicians better than DCINY.
DCINY is one of the crappiest gigs around. That they keep fighting this fight has become sad at this point. Playing as a backup orchestra for mediocre choirs and suffering under egotistical but completely inept conductors? Who cares! Let it go!
Interesting…
more info here: https://www.local802afm.org/dciny-orchestra/
It is the DCINY Orchestra that is on strike. It seems they are hired by DCINY for their concerts and have been playing with no contract.
I guess “woke” is infectious and strikes against anything of Meritocracy:(
Don’t you need leverage to go on strike. These guys have about as much as a marshmallow bottle-opener.
Besides not paying area standard wages at major venues in the apple, DCINY offers no benefits and only pay musicians for half a gig if they only play on half the program! Not exactly an industry standard in the symphonic universe.