Free outdoor concert series are as much of a summer staple as festivals, barbecues and losing Frisbees on the roof.
Several new series in downtown Fo .
Verbatim: Fort Wayne Philharmonic reaches agreement with musicians
The Journal Gazette
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic issued this news release today:
Fort Wayne, IN (May 24, 2021) Music of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic will return to the stage this summer and next season following ratification on Sunday night of a new contract agreement between the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Local 58, Fort Wayne Musicians Association.
The contract begins with 7 weeks of work for summer 2021, followed by a 28-week 2021-2022 Season. The agreement maintains the number of core musicians and per service musicians. Wage rates remain unchanged, with employer provided healthcare paid at 99% through August 31. On September 1 that rate will revert to the 70% figure historically provided to the musicians. In addition, one-time furlough offset payments of $4,000 and $2,000 for full-time and per service musicians, respectively, will be made immediately.
ELLA ABBOTT / WBOI
Fort Wayne Philharmonic musicians announced Friday they would not vote in favor of a contract that “contains permanent cuts” to wages or conditions.
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic announced Tuesday it would need to begin canceling summer concerts if an agreement with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players Association could not be made by Friday.
The announcement came hours after musicians met on the Allen County Courthouse Green to show the results of their letter writing campaign. Musicians unfurled five rolls of taped together letters to the Philharmonic board about 1300 letters in total.
Negotiations between management and the musician’s union have been ongoing since last fall, a few months after musicians were furloughed by management due to the ongoing pandemic.
Philharmonic says concerts at risk if no deal by Friday | Local journalgazette.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from journalgazette.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
ELLA ABBOTT / WBOI
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Board of Directors Chairman Chuck Surack released a letter to the community today (Tuesday) addressing the ongoing contract and labor disputes between the organization and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players Association.
Contract negotiations stalled in August of last year. A major point of contention has been the number of full-time musicians employed by the orchestra.
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic board of directors have proposed cutting full-time musicians from 63 to as low as 15.
In his letter, Surack says the Philharmonic was never locked in at 15 musicians, but that “the union would not discuss any number less than 44.”