It is possible to go from band to worse: A Hartford Update

In the midst of the storm raging between the Hartford Symphony management (which is the Bushnell Center for the Arts) and its musicians, Steve Metcalf, of WNPR, wrote in response to the management threat to shut down, It’s hard to know what to say. One’s first impulse is to grab the key figures on both sides by the collar and throw them into a locked room and say: “Dammit, solve this!”

Yep. We saw the sign....

The major issue remains "guaranteed performances" for the orchestra's core musicians. Bushnell want to cut those by 30%. The effect on the musicians would be financially devastating. "Sadly enough, I take the shutdown threat as being real," Metcalf continues.

That was December 18. There is much more to Metcalf's column, but the news continues to worsen.

Mara Lee

Move forward to January 6 and Mara Lee's article in the Hartford Courant. She notes that, On Wednesday, he (Stephen Collins, the symphony's director of artistic operations and administration) said management has told the union that if there isn't an agreement in place by Jan. 15, the only decision left at that point is to determine "exactly how we proceed in shutting down the organization." Bushnell has not been forthcoming about the contents of any contractual proposal and, in fact, has refused comment to the Courant as well as outside arts consultants (including Drew McManus).

On January 7, musicians unanimously rejected the latest "offer" from Bushnell, which apparently has remained unchanged since negotiations began last spring. And yes, it has gone from bad to worse yet again. McManus reports that the proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) now contains a cancellation clause which, in a press statement issued by the musicians, “In essence, the contract would be a one sided affair binding the musicians but giving HSO management and Board the ability to walk away from their obligations.” Furthermore, Bushnell is now engaging in "regressive bargaining", something that has occurred all too frequently as arts organizations attempt to cripple their employees, “Now, in addition to asking the core musicians to take a 40% cut, management wants to cut income producing services and reduce work opportunities for all of the musicians.”

Bushnell's self-imposed deadline is January 15. The Ides of March could be coming early this year. What happens after that is anyone's guess. There appears to be no best case scenario for the musicians or the community.

ADDENDUM: Irony of ironies:

The Summer 2015 HSO newsletter, Quarter Notes, announced

• A new six-year extension of Conductor Carolyn Kuan's contract with the symphony. Of course, this was after the expiration of the musicians' CBA.

• Among things that are NEW at the HSO: Did you notice the new name of our newsletter?* Since we publish quarterly, the name “Quarter Notes” seemed more appropriate and a bit more “quirky.” We’ve even altered the graphics to depict a quarter note in place of the eighth note that used to be there and the HSO logo (a great logo) is now back. Now isn't that thrilling.

• Some kind of gala event entitled Bravo! (held in May) netted over $130K to support the HSO and its programs throughout the community. Wonder where that cash has gone...

Carolyn Kuan

I have also neglected to note that the HSO has created an Assistant Conductor position, a newly established post to (from the HSO website) assist Music Director Carolyn Kuan to extend the HSO’s community and educational outreach.  The latest IRS Form 990 (for the fiscal year ending in August 2014) indicates that Kuan received $154,369 in salary and another $24,240 in "other compensation." During this same period, the orchestra was over $450,000 in the black!

ONE MORE THING: In the "for what it's worth," David Fay, President and CEO of the Symphony (serving concurrently in the same positions with Bushnell) earned $374,521 plus $26,000 in the mysterious "other" category. This information found on Bushnell's 2014 990, found here. Several other Bushnell employees make in excess of $100,000 and Executive VP Ronna Reynolds clocks in at $217,829 plus an-"other" 37,554. Who says there's no money in non-profits?

Bushnell's David Fay
We'll be seeing more of him....