Detroit Symphony musicians appeal for support as contract deadline approaches

The American working class is under assault from all fronts!

Detroit Symphony musicians appeal for support as contract deadline approaches

By Shannon Jones

28 August 2010

Members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) performed a free public concert Thursday at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit to reach out for community support as they resist massive and unprecedented concession demands by management.

Talks between DSO musicians and management broke off Friday without an agreement. No further talks are scheduled. In a statement to the press the players spokesman, cellist Haden McKay, said, “I don’t feel any closer to a settlement. I think we’ve gone about as far as we can go.” Orchestra members will meet Saturday to discuss the next step.

The 84 current players are being asked to accept a three-year agreement containing a 28 percent pay cut, a reduction in health care benefits, a permanent reduction in the size of the orchestra and other takeaways. The musicians gave up significant concessions in the previous agreement and many positions remain unfilled.

If no settlement is reached by the August 29 contract deadline, DSO management is threatening to implement a so-called Proposal B containing even more drastic concessions.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/aug2010/dso1-a28.shtml

longer. Until the economy improves, it seems unlikely that such organizations are going to be viable. Detroit is in dire straits.