October 2, 2008

PRESS RELEASE               

SYMPHONY MUSICIANS TO STRIKE 

The musicians of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra will not perform at the Red River Revel this weekend. The musicians, members of Local 116 - Shreveport Federation of Musicians, last week voted overwhelmingly to authorize Local 116 to call a strike. Chris McCaa, President of Local 116, says, “The musicians are on strike effective with the issuance of this press release.” The musicians, who have been bargaining and performing without a contract for over one year, were presented with an implemented final offer at the close of the 2007-08 season last May. “The musicians made every effort to bargain in good faith and remain on the stage for the entire 2007-08 season” says musicians’ spokesman, Dr. Rick Rowell.  The implemented offer contained a wage cut of nearly 75% for the full-time musicians and numerous other unacceptable changes. The musicians had already taken pay cuts in three of the last six seasons.  “The implemented offer was an insult and a slap in the face of the musicians of the Shreveport Symphony. The offer was essentially crammed down their throats. This shocking treatment of musicians, and this devaluation of their contributions to the cultural life of the community is a terrible reflection on the city of Shreveport”, says Christopher Durham of the American Federation of Musicians, the musicians Chief Negotiator.

Durham goes on to explain that “The musicians were issued individual musician agreements earlier this summer. This document is more like a letter of intent, assuring the individual musicians a position in the orchestra. The Master Agreement is the controlling document which governs wages and terms and conditions of employment covering the collective or bargaining unit. The musicians had no choice but to sign these documents if they were to remain members of the orchestra, even though we believe they were issued illegally by management. Had an individual musician not signed their  agreement, management could have assumed that the musician was not planning to return for the next season, vacated the musicians chair and held an audition to replace them. This is the standard mechanism to replace a musician who does not return for the following season.”

The musicians remained on the stage for the entire 2007-08 season in hopes of resolving this contract amicably. The Board’s negotiators did not budge off their original offer to re-classify the full-time musicians status to per-service, effectively cutting their wages by 75%. Even after management implemented its final offer, it was hoped that the community would rally around this cause and convince the Board of Directors to rethink its position. The musicians, faced with the prospect of accepting a severe and unacceptable wage cut, have chosen to maintain their professional and human dignity by not performing under this punitive contract.

 Over the past season management has failed to promote the services of the orchestra in the schools and communities throughout the area. The musicians have yet to be scheduled for musical education performances in the schools during the 2008-09 season. Management uses this lack of activity to argue that the orchestra does not need a full-time core of musicians.  In spite of these failures, the orchestra had a positive artistic season (2007-08) with good attendance, with ticket sales and sponsorships at a six-year high. The fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 saw the SSO with no deficit and no debt!  Considering the positive economic prospects for our community (the film industry, Cyber Command, and gas exploration) the musicians see no need for such drastic and punitive measures.

Many of the musicians will donate their services to perform in a benefit concert supporting hurricane relief through the Red Cross and the ongoing needs of musicians. The concert is organized by Orchestra Players United of Shreveport (O.P.U.S.), and will be held October 11^th at 7:30 PM at First Baptist Church of Shreveport. Information on the program and the availability of tickets may be found at: www.shreveportmusicians.org.