IT CAN BE DONE!

Four years ago, the Indianapolis Symphony was embroiled in a bitter contract dispute. It ended in a lock-out.

What a difference a few years makes: the orchestra just announced a new three-year agreement (14 months early) that includes a 9.3% raise. While this is great news, players will be shouldered with additional costs of healthcare insurance. Still....

As reported in the Indianapolis Star:

“The Board of Directors is delighted that an agreement was reached 14 months in advance of the current contract expiration,” said Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Board Chair Vince Caponi in a press release.

“After recent concessionary contracts, we are encouraged that the Orchestra is moving in a positive direction. We thank the ISO’s management and board for their efforts in obtaining an early agreement, and we look forward to a bright future for the ISO,” said Brian Smith, chair of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Committee.

After the bitter 2012 contract battle that led to a month-long lockout for musicians, ISO cites a string of successes, including three straight years of budget surpluses and major growth in ticket sales and fundraising.

Fort Worth needs to discover Indy's secret.