Lies on top of lies....

Atlanta Symphony musicians outside the WAC on what
should have been opening night...

In my most recent post, it was noted that the management of the Atlanta Symphony (ASO) had proposed bringing in a federal mediator, now openly identified as Allison Beck, the individual who assisted in the successful negotiations at the Metropolitan Opera.  What is now extremely baffling is how this development has been handled by management itself.  While I have had this information in hand for several days, the ASO only publicly announced it in a Saturday evening (9/27) press release.

Management has made no attempt to negotiate any kind of agreement--even the popular "talk and play" employed by countless such organizations around the globe.  In essence, the orchestra continues to function under the former collective bargaining agreement until a new one is agreed upon.  A part of the ASO statement reads,

“We are pleased that after weeks of an open offer, the musicians’ union has accepted mediation and we’re looking forward to getting back to the negotiating table,” ASO president and CEO Stanley Romanstein said in the statement. “We are ready to resolve our differences and start the ASO’s 70th anniversary season.”

"Open offer"?  Why hasn't management proposed meeting with the musicians since the lockout began on September 7.  The countdown has been ticking for months and the players lose their health benefits after September 30.  Obviously, someone thinks that he can simply bend the players to his will.

HOWEVER.....a musician's statement reveals an entirely different scenario:

“We received a formal request for mediation on Monday, September 22nd at 10:55am from WAC/ASO management,” the Players’ Association statement explained. “Three hours later, we accepted the suggestion to speak with Ms. Allison Beck, the Acting Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and were told that FMCS officials would be contacting us accordingly, which has not happened yet. …

“The musicians are happy to speak with FMCS Director Beck about pathways forward when she is able to be in touch with us,” the statement from ASO musicians Murphy and Laufer continued. “There is as yet no further agreement about the process.”

So, where's the beef (in this case, the truth)?  As I've known of the mediator's involvement for several days, I'm surprised that ASO waited until Saturday evening for such an announcement.  What does the ASO or the Woodruff Arts Center have to hide.  AND, for that matter, where is the rest of the cash going?  Financial reports indicate that musician compensation is roughly $12 million out of a total budget of $38 million.  AND, what happened to monies previously donated or pledged ($114 million as of 2007) to WAC for a new concert hall, the plans for which were shelved several years ago?

The hall that won't be....
More pictures to come....

So many questions.  So few (honest) answers.