Columbus Symphony, musicians settle contract
Ending an impasse that canceled the summer pops and threatened the entire 2008-09 season, the orchestra board of trustees and musicians signed off on the deal.
The contract retains 53 full-time musicians but reduces their pay, shortens the performance season and moves some concerts from the Ohio Theatre to Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
Both sides expressed relief that the season was being salvaged.
"We can go to bed tonight relived that we have a symphony orchestra," board President Robert "Buzz" Trafford said after trustees unanimously approved the pact. "And I absolutely believe that it will be an excellent orchestra."
Douglas J. Fisher, president of the union, said musicians couldn't sit back and just watch the symphony die. Operations have been suspended since June 1 and some musicians have taken jobs elsewhere.
"The Columbus Symphony Orchestra is an integral part of our arts community and it pained everyone to contemplate its end," he said in a statement.
In an interview after the vote, another union official and principal tuba player, Jim Akins, called the concessions "painful" and "lifestyle changing."
"I don't think there will be any parties tonight," he said.
The contract will help the orchestra cut $2.7 million from its $12.5-million budget by reducing musician salaries by $1.3 million, or about 27 percent, and trimming management and other expenses by $1.4 million.
Trafford said savings in nonmusician expenses will come from fewer office workers and lower production costs, including the occasional use of Veteran's Memorial Auditorium in addition to the higher-priced Ohio Theatre. Details have yet to be worked out, he said.
A joint statement issued by the symphony and union said the orchestra expects to resume performances Oct. 24 and 26, when it accompanies Opera Columbus in The Pearl Fishers. Holiday Pops performances will be scheduled for early December, followed by BalletMet's The Nutcracker Dec. 12-23.
The classical season will formally open Jan. 10 with a special presentation of The Planets Suite by Gustav Holtz, narrated by former astronaut and Sen. John Glenn.The orchestra's musicians debated the contract for two hours. Akins said they were divided, but he declined to provide a breakdown.
"This is not a win-win; it's a survival issue at best," he said. "Hopefully there's enough in this to give people the ability to at least hope for the future."
Base salary in the first year of the contract will be reduced to $42,180 from $55,200, though principal players can earn substantially more. The base rises to $44,610 in the final year of the contract.
In addition to the pay cut, musicians will received fewer pension contributions and a new health plan with reduced premiums but higher deductibles.
Trafford said the new $9.5-million budget is an attempt to get symphony finances in line with the level of community support.
Facing multi-million-dollar deficits in recent years, the symphony board put forward a plan in January to cut the number of full-time musicians from 53 to 31 and the number of performance weeks from 46 to 34. Musicians are paid only during performance weeks and for vacations.
When that was rejected, the board offered to maintain 53 full-time positions but cut salaries by 40 percent. That, too, was rejected.
Management suspended operations June 1 and canceled the Picnic with the Pops outdoor summer concerts. Musicians lost $800,000 in pay, and health and dental benefits were stopped July 1.
It still isn't clear whether music director Junichi Hirokami, who has one year remaining on his contract, will return to lead the symphony. Hirokami, who lives in Japan, sided with musicians during the labor dispute.
"I can't answer that," Trafford said when asked whether Hirokami would return.
posted by Kathie Bracy @ 9:44 PM
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