With their contract expiring at midnight last night, musicians in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra this morning condemned management for refusing to offer an extension and back off proposals to cut the group’s schedule from 52 weeks to 40 weeks.
“Our priorities are focused on maintaining a competitive compensation and benefit package that will allow the organization to attract and retain high caliber musicians, on maintaining and improving the health and safety of our musicians, and on empowering the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to bring transcendent performances to audiences in Maryland and beyond,” the Baltimore Symphony Musicians wrote in a release.
A reduction in performances will also result in a drop in salaries and benefits, players said, that would damage the orchestra and its future. For now, the concerts–including this Thursday’s performance with local electronic musician Dan Deacon–will go on, with performers being compensated at the same payscale as in the just-expired four-month contract.
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