From today’s Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville:
Musicians were scheduled to meet Thursday with the management of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra to discuss a labor impasse, the first time the two sides have sat down since an impasse
Several performances have been canceled in the past weeks. No decision has been made about whether the orchestra will play at next weekend’s First Coast Nutcracker, which is the next event on its schedule.
The musicians’ five-year contract with the symphony ended in August. They were continuing to perform while a new contract was being negotiated. But talks broke down two weeks ago and symphony management declared a lockout.
Alan Hopper, executive director of the symphony, said the two sides have been about $1.5 million apart over the five-year span of the contract.
He didn’t expect the bottom line to change.
“We’ve always told them that we have a monetary mandate from the board,” Hopper said. “We can move the chairs around in any way they want, but they haven’t worked with us on it.”
A spokesman for the musicians said they want a fair and equitable contract.
“We have been unwilling to talk about cutting each other’s salary and benefits,” spokesman Kevin Casseday said.
Full story . . .
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