Phila. Orchestra members strike

Management and musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra resumed contract negotiations late last night, three days into a strike which has forced the cancellation of at least six concerts. While the number of University students affected by the strike is uncertain, several of the canceled shows were part of the Orchestra's "Alternative Music Experience," which offered students the opportunity to attend a concert series at heavily discounted prices. Representatives of the striking musicians held a press conference yesterday outside of the Franklin Institute. As a goodwill gesture, they presented a bouquet of red roses to the Orchestra's Volunteer Committee. Orchestra Association spokesperson Mary Loiselle explained that the negotiations are "bogged down" over the future of the electronic media guarantee, a contract clause that assures musicians a minimum fee, in addition to their base salaries, for recording and broadcast work. Last Sunday night, Orchestra management proposed a $2,000 media guarantee in the first year of the musicians' new contract, with no guarantees for the second and third years, she said. But the musicians unanimously rejected the offer. In the final year of the musicians' last contract -- which expired at 12:01 a.m. Monday -- the media guarantee totaled $6,000 per musician. Although the two sides are only a few thousand dollars apart, representatives of the musicians' union were not optimistic that the latest talks would end the impasse. "I don't anticipate anything fruitful coming out of tonight's negotiations," union spokesperson Bob Bedard said yesterday. "Management is only talking about the tiny little things that have no real economic impact." Bedard said negotiations over the media guarantee are about more than just money. "The media guarantee ensures that the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra are heard around the world," he explained. "It's the only way for the Orchestra to attract and retain the world's best players." He added that the strike is not intended to force the resignations of any specific members of the orchestra's management. "The musicians want better management," Bedard said. "But I would not characterize this strike as being about trying to force out any specific people." While several of the musicians expressed frustration about the strike, they said the negotiations left them with no other choice. "We came to [the decision to strike] with a great deal of sadness," tympani player Don Liuzzi said. "But it was really our only way to send the message that there is a serious problem with the Philadelphia Orchestra." Liuzzi said the musicians are willing to sit out the entire season. "We're seeking management's full commitment to the future of the orchestra," he said. "We'll strike for as long as we have to to attain that." Liuzzi added that the musicians were planning to perform a series of volunteer concerts during the strike, but are not currently rehearsing together as an orchestra. The musicians will picket daily at the Academy of Music building, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, the entire orchestra is planning to attend the public portion of the Orchestra Association's board meeting on September 18.