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| Another orchestra is heading into crisis mode |
Over the past several years, things have gone from bad to worse for the musicians of the Ft. Worth (TX) Symphony. After months of negotiations, the orchestra and its musicians agreed to a collective bargaining agreement in the fall of 2012 (it expired July 31, 2015). The terms included:
- Salary increases of 3.5% over the life of the contract in annual increments of 0%, 1.5% and 2%. That's obviously not keeping up with any semblance of the inflation rate.
- Modest increases in tour per diem rates.
- A modest seniority pay package for contract musicians beginning after five years of employment. (Previously, the FWSO was the only major orchestra not offering seniority pay).
- Changes in work rules to provide more flexibility in paid and unpaid leave for musicians in summer months.
- Preservation of a 46-week concert season.
It is imperative to note that this was two years after the musicians caved in to a 13.5% cut in salaries and benefits. In retrospect, the 2012 agreement was a joke. And things are only getting worse. It's past negotiation time and management has come back within another demand, this time an additional 8.7% cut. There's been no give and take. When the musicians offer a counterproposal, management sticks to its original guns.
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| Musicians have resorted to circulating leaflets at concerts. |
On October 12, the Star-Telegram reported that the orchestra is running deficits of $200-400K on an overall $12 million budget. It's vital to note that the orchestra is increasing revenue streams through a renewed association with the local ballet. The orchestra is again playing with Texas Ballet Theater (including in five performances of Dracula this weekend at Bass Hall). When the ballet contract was cancelled for the 2008-09 season, the orchestra lost six weeks of regular employment and a $360,000 fee. That was about a third of approximately $1 million in the orchestra’s revenue losses during an 18-month period during the Recession. Last season, it performed with the ballet for two productions, mitigating losses somewhat. Exactly where is this extra cash going? Add to that the fact that individual ticket sales have risen although season tickets have dropped.
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| Is the FWSO selling enough tickets to fill Bass Concert Hall (1998)? Capacity 2,042 |
On November 5, the Star-Telegram noted that "Musicians see progress in contract talks with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra." "Musicians presented a second financial counterproposal, and we are awaiting management’s response,” Kenneth Krause, head of Local 72-147 of the American Federation of Musicians, said in an email. He did not provide details of the union’s proposal. “We continue to make some progress but are concerned that we still see no evidence of a comprehensive plan for growth,” he said.
But management again seems to have dug in its heels. In an email to the Star-Telegram on Thursday, Amy Adkins, CEO and president of the orchestra, disputed that symphony administrators are not seeking “growth.” The FWSO administrative staff consists of skilled professionals who work diligently to produce concerts, reach new audiences, and attract new donors. Last season, our efforts resulted in 14 percent growth in ticket sales and 7 percent growth in contributions,” she said. “We are also committed to artistic excellence and maintaining the world-class orchestra that has been built through the generosity of this community. This is why more than 46 percent of every dollar raised goes directly to support the salaries and benefits of our fine musicians, well above the national average. However, the Association’s primary focus right now is to address a history of structural deficits, triggered by the recession, in order to stabilize our budget,” she continued. “Growth begins with viability, and there is no viability without a plan for a sustainable future.”
Roughly two weeks later, it was more of the same, according to a report from WFAA-TV. Scott Jessup, a violist who also is helping with the talks, said they are disappointed that there hasn't been more movement. "It just doesn't add up to us when we're told there is no money," he said. "It's not exactly what we were expecting."
The symphony declined to comment...
The most recent news comes from the website of the Musicians of the Ft. Worth Symphony (dated December 17):
Contract negotiations continued this week and after over six months of bargaining, management still proposes to cut our salaries back to 2003 levels, squandering years of growth.
This isn’t the first time management has demanded cuts. During the recession, musicians agreed to a 13.5% pay cut—saving the orchestra over $2.3 million since 2010. Yet as the economy recovered, the symphony’s budget has actually gone down, from a high of $13.1 million in 2009 to $11.9 million in 2014.
Once again, the musicians are being told to pay for a pattern of short-sighted management. We continue to bargain, but we are concerned that management still insists full-time work be cut from 46 to 39 weeks. Fort Worth deserves an orchestra that reflects its vital role in our community.This week we submitted our third financial counter-proposal with significant additional savings to the orchestra, as well as a one year pay freeze. In turn, we call for a fair contract and credible fundraising plan that grows our orchestra during a time of economic strength in the region.
Several things are certain including the fact that there is absolutely no negotiating going on. Every time the musicians offer a counter-proposal (see above), the management offers nothing. It's trying to barter with one side refusing to give in. It's also necessary to note that Amy Adkins, a former development official with the FWSO, was appointed President and CEO in 2010. The orchestra was in serious trouble in 2010 and management's solution? Cut the player's salaries and promote the individual in charge of fund-raising!
One has to wonder how this labor strife has really affected the FWSO's recent decision to cancel a planning European tour in May. According to the Star-Telegram, The trip was canceled last week after several concert halls dropped out of the tour, partly due to the lack of (Spanish) government funding and the falling value of the euro. Management insists that the cancellation has nothing to do with the contract negotiations, but anyone can see that it all boils down to dollars and cents. If the organization is so hurting that it needs to (again) balance its budget on the backs of its musicians, how can it possibly even consider the cost of an expensive tour (a reported $1.2 million)? Ridiculous.
To be continued (unfortunately or hopefully?)
To be continued (unfortunately or hopefully?)
Don't know if you've seen this on Twitter:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/ToddWFAA8/status/685103834960510976
("....orchestra management has again submitted its exact same financial proposal for a third time-a proposal they've refused to budge from since October.")
I think this is what passes for "leadership" in the mind of CEO Amy Adkins (gosh, how I hate the close resemblance to my own name!) As she was tapped for this position from a candidate pool of one, she appears to be delusional about her abilities.
Read the employee reviews on Glassdoor about what it's like to work there. One of them sounds awfully, awfully defensive (it's the one with typos that ends with "MANAGEMENT IS FAIR"). :-)
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Fort-Worth-Symphony-Reviews-E596922.htm