<![CDATA[Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

<![CDATA[Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra - News]]>Fri, 30 Sep 2016 11:58:05 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Read The Rebuttal The Star-Telegram Isn't Publishing]]>Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:43:02 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/read-the-rebuttal-the-star-telegram-isnt-publishingNote: The Star-Telegram received the following rebuttal to its 9/20/16 article on 9/23/16, and as of 9/27/16 at 9:00AM, it has not been published.

The Musicians of the FWSO would like to comment on FWSO Management's public statements made on 9/20/16. Ms. Adkins is quoted in the Star-Telegram article as stating "The union has not requested a meeting with us..." Apparently Ms. Adkins is unaware that the union is the Musicians and we have already repeatedly requested that Management return to the negotiating table in order to resolve the remaining issues with their recent Last, Best and Final offer. Canceling programs one week at a time, but with no movement toward a return to negotiations is punitive to the public, as well as the Musicians who are hoping for a resolution.

In a September 19 email sent to FWSO patrons, Management asserted that the “Union” and Musicians’ negotiating committee reversed course. This is false.

The call for “Growth, not Cuts” has been consistent for the last 15 months.
The job of a negotiating committee and union representatives is to come to the best possible agreement, and present it to the Musicians at large.
The August 31st tentative agreement was brought to the Musicians with a clear recommendation for ratification.
Despite this, the Musicians overwhelmingly rejected the contract.
This wasn’t a reversal. It was a vote of no confidence.

Overview of the Tentative Agreement
The key dispute between the Musicians and Management has nothing to do with the projected deficit, nor the fact that there have been deficits from losses over the last couple of years. The Musicians are always made fully aware of these challenges.

The real issue is that the Musicians took a 13.5% pay cut in 2010 worth $3 million, and saw no benefit from their sacrifice.
Specifically, Management

did not turn that $3 million savings into success.
kept a flat budget even after the Texas/Fort Worth economy came back to life post-2010.
consistently dipped into a contingency fund to balance the budget.
never made a plan to replenish the contingency fund.

Accepting additional cuts would have been a tacit acceptance of how this organization is doing business.

Financial Background

The Musicians do not dispute the projected $700,000 deficit, except perhaps to add that the FWSO carries no actual debt. The Musicians dispute management’s constant motto that “there is no more money in Fort Worth” for the following reasons:

Through its 2016 “Million Dollar Summer” campaign, the Fort Worth Opera doubled its donor base and raised $1 million in just three months.
The FWSO’s Strategic Plan clearly recommends an increase in fundraising staff to 5 members, but that department has had only 3 members, on average, for the past three years. Orchestras of similar size have 2-3 times the number of fundraising staff members as the FWSO.
Orchestras of similar size spend about 8% of their budget on fundraising; the FWSO only spends 4% of its budget on fundraising.
When paid performances lost in the recession returned and demand for concerts increased, the budget continued to shrink.
When the Musicians repeatedly asked for plans for an endowment campaign or reaching out to the subscribers and donors for additional help, Management said no.

The Musicians’ rejection of the most recent proposal was a vote for positive change.

Musician Salaries

Management has repeatedly referenced principal players' salaries in an attempt to disguise the fact that section Musicians, who represent the majority of the orchestra, will have their salary cut to $51,370. As a result, the Fort Worth Symphony salary would rank 33rd among the nation’s top 50 orchestras. The reason principal players have additional compensation is that they have more responsibilities, including performing solos with the orchestra and administrative duties outside of rehearsal time.

Management’s offer of “surplus sharing” seems disingenuous, considering Management projects a deficit every year. Given Management’s unwillingness over 15 months of negotiation to discuss any plan for growth, wouldn’t this contract language only encourage Management NOT to raise additional funds? Wouldn’t it be a greater incentive to have language that offers the Musicians a raise if Management does NOT hit their targeted fundraising goals?

Benefits: Health care, Vacation

As Management states, it is no surprise that health care costs are rising.
However, you may be surprised to learn:

It costs $1750 per month for a musician to insure their family through the FWSO plan.
The FWSO is the only orchestra in the country that plays more than 20 weeks per year and has NO disability benefits.
The Dallas Symphony and the Houston Symphony each has 65 days of paid vacation per year. The FWSO Management’s current offer is 35 days.

Conclusion

Management says the “letters, emails and calls of encouragement confirm your understanding that the FWSO must be managed in a fiscally responsible manner for the long-term health of the Orchestra.”
Does this mean Management

is only receiving positive phone calls?
is ignoring all of the calls they have received in complaint? (Perhaps because those who have called haven’t donated enough to warrant consideration?)
is counting how many calls they get for both sides and then deciding where public opinion really lies?

We just ask you to consider the following as you decide for yourself about fiscal responsibility:
Is the FWSO Management being fiscally responsible when they:

Fall short on raising enough money to pay the musicians?
Use a contingency fund every year to cover operating costs?
Ignore professional advice to expand the fundraising department?
Have a new Vice-President of Development every year?
Don’t have a Strategic Plan past the year 2017?

The September 19 email from the Board and the CEO states that they “all aspire for the issue to be resolved and for the Orchestra to return to providing beautiful music and bringing joy to us all.” We would like to see the FWSO Management and Board JOIN US in work and action that proves we are ALL committed to having beautiful music performed at the highest level by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

]]><![CDATA[Musicians of the FWSO Present: Bowie Blast, 9/25 at 4:00]]>Mon, 19 Sep 2016 14:13:11 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/musicians-of-the-fwso-present-bowie-blast-925-at-400

In response to the cancellation of the FWSO “Music of David Bowie” concert on Saturday September 24, the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra are presenting a David Bowie tribute party of our own--called "BOWIE BLAST!"--on Sunday September 25 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at Shipping and Receiving Bar, 201 S. Calhoun St., Fort Worth, Texas 76104.

There will be live covers of Bowie’s music performed by area musicians, as well as some of the symphony musicians, themselves. There may even be opportunities for audience members to share the spotlight and perform a little Bowie Karaoke.

General admission is $5 per person to benefit the Musicians of the FWSO Fund, but admission is free to anyone who has proof of ticket purchase to Saturday night’s canceled FWSO concert at Bass Performance Hall.

Come rock out with the Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra!!

More info here

]]><![CDATA[FWSO Musicians Will Perform With Texas Ballet Theater]]>Tue, 13 Sep 2016 00:32:37 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/fwso-musicians-will-perform-with-texas-ballet-theaterRehearsals are underway for Texas Ballet Theater's September 16-18 production of "Carmen+DGV", conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Read about our collaboration, and buy tickets today for this exciting program. See you at Winspear Opera House!

]]><![CDATA[FWSO Musician Brass Quintet Performs National anthem]]>Sun, 11 Sep 2016 20:10:59 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/fwso-musician-brass-quintet-performs-national-anthemAt 2PM Sunday, when our symphonic concert would have taken place, the Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra dedicated our performance of The Star-Spangled Banner to the memory of the victims of 9/11 and to their loved ones.

Watch here https://www.facebook.com/fwsomusicians/videos/1140182266019446/

]]><![CDATA[gofundme campaign active]]>Sun, 11 Sep 2016 16:11:24 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/gofundme-campaign-activeLooking for a way to help us in our fight for fairness? We greatly appreciate your support! Having bargained in good faith for 15 months including 4 federal mediation sessions, we are fighting to secure the artistic integrity of our orchestra by striking a contract that would cut pay for the second time in 6 years. If you would like Fort Worth, city of Cowboys and Culture, to have a top orchestra, ask for a fair and progressive contract that includes "Growth, Not Cuts". The musicians accept funds with much gratitude and appreciation.

DONATE NOW

]]><![CDATA[Rally at the Courthouse Saturday 9/10 from 5-6PM]]>Sat, 10 Sep 2016 01:09:08 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/rally-for-at-the-courthouse-saturday-910-from-5-6pmCome rally with us on Saturday, September 10 from 5:00-6:00 PM. Meet at the Tarrant County Courthouse steps, 100 E Weatherford Street. Wear green and be seen, and enjoy speakers and music from our Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet!

]]><![CDATA[Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Call Strike]]>Thu, 08 Sep 2016 18:23:38 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/musicians-of-the-fort-worth-symphony-orchestra-call-strikeAs of 12:30 today, after the second rehearsal for the opening Subscription concert of the 2016-17 Season, the Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) and their representatives from the American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147, have officially called a strike.

Management issued its last, best and final offer yesterday morning when musicians met to resume negotiations. The musicians had come with plans to bargain, but were met with the same exact offer which the musicians rejected four days ago. Management also announced that this final offer would be implemented on Monday, a clear signal that management’s intention was to irresponsibly cease talks.

In 2010 the musicians accepted a 13.5% cut to help face recessionary economic conditions. But today, Fort Worth is one of the most thriving and growing cities in the nation, and ticket sales are on the rise. Reducing the budget has already caused musicians to leave the orchestra at twice the rate of the previous decade, and musicians refuse to agree to more damaging cuts.

After years of cuts and irresponsibly refusing to bargain further, the future of the FWSO is now at stake. The Musicians continue to call on Management to return to the bargaining table in the interest of coming to an agreement and ensuring the orchestra’s very existence.

“We want our audiences and the citizens of Fort Worth to know how much we regret that we are forced to take this extreme step,” said bassist and member of the musicians’ negotiating committee, Julie Vinsant. “We call on our management to come back to the table so that we can continue providing great music for our great city. We are very thankful for your continuing steadfast support.”]]><![CDATA[musicians vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike after rejecting offer from management]]>Wed, 07 Sep 2016 03:28:34 GMThttp://www.fwsomusicians.com/news/musicians-vote-overwhelmingly-to-authorize-strike-after-rejecting-offer-from-managementFor immediate release
September 6, 2016

Tonight Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) musicians voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, after rejecting a concessionary offer from the management.

With this vote, a strike can be called at any time.

After 14 months of nearly continuous negotiations and 4 days with a federal mediator, the musician’s negotiating team reached a tentative agreement as a last ditch effort to reach an agreement with management. But the musicians overwhelmingly rejected management’s offer refusing to accept more cuts to their beloved orchestra.

In 2010 the musicians accepted a 13.5% cut to help face recessionary economic conditions. But today, Fort Worth is one of the most thriving and growing cities in the nation, ticket sales are on the rise and the orchestra is consistently garnering positive reviews. Reducing the budget has already caused musicians to leave the orchestra at twice the rate of the previous decade, and musicians refuse to agree to more damaging cuts. There must be a plan for growth, and the FWSO does not currently have a strategic plan beyond 2017.

“Our serious decision to provide authorization for a strike is about more than wages and benefits” said FWSO Cellist and Negotiation Committee Member Shelley Jessup, “It is about the future of the orchestra. Fort Worth is a proud destination city and should have a destination orchestra. The cuts we have seen since 2010 threaten to undo all the work that donors, musicians and citizens have done over the last 100 years to build the FWSO into the world class orchestra our city deserves.”

On Sunday the musicians called on management to resume talks immediately, and offered to meet on Labor Day. Management has not agreed to return to the bargaining table until Wednesday morning.

Press contact:

Stewart Williams
President, American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147
swilliams@musiciansdfw.org
‪940-594-5174

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