Symphony pay gap flap off-key, chairman says

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1219&u_sid=10059609

Published Saturday | June 23, 2007
Symphony pay gap flap off-key, chairman says
BY ASHLEY HASSEBROEK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Omaha Symphony musicians have gotten patrons talking at their past few concerts — and not just about their performances.


Rob Hallam

Huddled in the Holland Performing Arts Center lobbies during intermissions, audience members have been discussing the leaflets that musicians distributed before each program, detailing their current contract dispute.

"Management . . . raised CEO Rob Hallam's compensation on average 20 percent a year for each of the past three years," the leaflet states. It also says that "Hallam hired his wife as a consultant to the Omaha Symphony at over $99,000."

The musicians — who have received raises of 2 to 3 percent over the same period — find these figures hard to swallow. On Friday, they released a statement that expressed a "vote of no confidence" in Hallam's leadership.

For anyone who has been watching the dispute between the musicians and management over the 2007-08 contract, the musicians' latest move is no surprise. Negotiations broke down more than three weeks ago, and subsequent meetings haven't been scheduled. Musicians are seeking a base pay raise higher than the 2.5 percent increase management has offered.



One of the biggest points of contention in the dispute is the gap between the musicians' base pay — $28,327 in 2005-06 — and Hallam's salary — $205,152 for the same period. (Neither figure includes benefits.)


FULL story at link.