Ft. Worth Nears (Another) Deadline

In early February, I passed on reports that the Fort Worth Symphony Association would not proceed with its "concessionary contract" which would have decreased musician salaries by 8%. That agreement was slated to expire (pretty basically) now. Headway since then? Nothing.

In March, musicians staged a sit-in at the symphony's offices. The local CBS affiliate reported that  the musicians said on Monday, (March 20) management cancelled three scheduled negotiation sessions, without offering alternate dates. “This recklessness, lack of good faith, and dereliction of duty on management’s part cannot be tolerated,” the statement read.

On July 1, the Association published a lengthy "Update and FAQ" section on the orchestra's website. Noting that the current agreement ends July 31, this seems a bit late in the game. Also, several statements go out of their way to paint the musicians as petty.

• In answer to past salary cuts, the statement notes, During the recession, the musicians accepted salary reductions in 2010, and the staff endured layoffs and pension freezes. Since that time, musicians have received increases in wages and benefits in 2012, 2014, and 2015 totaling approximately 5.5%. Of course, this does not mention that the 2010 reductions totaled 13.5%. They are still 8% below 2009 levels. Further cuts put the players further behind.

• The proposed cuts amount to an 8.7% cut in total wages. Further, given the rising cost of healthcare, we are seeking to move from paying 93% of insurance premium downward to 85% – still very competitive among comparable orchestras. Even with these changes musician salaries would remain competitive with orchestras of similar budgets.

• What is the Union asking of the FWSOA?  The Union Negotiating Committee dismisses the current economic conditions and continues to put forth demands for nearly $1 million in increased salaries and benefits over the next three years. They have also submitted more than 50 non-economic “work rule” requests, and we have reached agreement of many of these issues.

• How difficult would it be to meet the musicians’ demands? The demands would create an accumulated deficit of $3 million in the next 36 months. The Orchestra Association simply cannot fund what the Union Negotiating Committee has demanded.  This plainly doesn't add up. When does $1 million over three years equal a $3 million deficit.

The Musicians offered their own lengthy Response to FAQ on their website. They insist that management hasn't done its job in generating new donors and dollars. It doesn't help that the organization has employed four (or is it 6?) development directors in five years. The development staff is also quite small, employing only three members (with no executive in charge) when similar-sized orchestras have staffs 2-3 times that large.

Ft. Worth's V-P of Development

A few more nuggets:

Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Facts:
●  With the proposed cuts, the FWSO would rank 32nd in salary amongst the country’s top 50 orchestras.  The FWSO musicians' salary would equate to the salary in 2003.
●  Under the management’s proposal, FWSO musicians would earn $42,000 less than a Dallas Symphony musician, and $20,000 below the national average of 50 of the country’s top orchestras.
●  Seniority and overtime are negligible, totaling about $500 per year for only the most senior members of the orchestra.

While the orchestra insists that its health benefit package is "competitive", the real numbers tell a different story:

●  The combination of reduced individual coverage and ZERO family coverage puts the FWSO at the BOTTOM of plans offered by the country’s top 50 orchestras.  
●  This past season, it cost $1746 per month to insure a family on the FWSOA health plan.

It is plainly obvious that these two sides are far apart in reaching any kind of agreement. It can only end ugly.