It looks like the negotiations have all but come to a standstill between the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and their musicians' union. According to the latest gossip news updates, the 65 fulltime symphony members balked at signing a contract that would see an 8.4 percent reduction in the wages. Word has it that after a 13.5 percent pay cut 5-years ago, the Symphony members not only demand their pay remain the same in 2016 -- they want to be guaranteed a raise over the next 3 seasons as well.
When the nation's economy took a turn for the worst back in 2008, the musicians of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra agreed to take a significant cut in pay to save the institution, but now that the town is in a finical upswing, they are absolutely unwilling to agree to another.
In a recent interview with Kera News, Union President Ken Krause, claimed that any fiscal shortfalls were a product of the management's making and should not be passed on to the blameless musicians:
"They're just not raising the money...I mean that's their job. That's not happening.
"So what they're trying to do is balance the budget on the backs of the musicians."
In light of the Symphony's seemingly unshakable position, the musicians recently voted to authorize a strike last Tuesday, although they have yet to call for an outright walkout.
For her part, orchestra President and CEO Amy Adkins swore up and down to the Star-Telegram, that despite the Symphony doing everything in its power, they have run a deficit the last four-years running:
"No matter what we are doing to improve matters, the setbacks have erased everything we've done and then some
"We often had to beg and plead for money at the end of every year to balance the budget, and many of those year-end 'angels' are either gone or not able to do what they once did."
What do you think the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra should do?
Is it about time that they looked into finding themselves some more pliable players?
Or, is it a shame to see the institution's managements trying to balance their budget on the backs of their musicians?
Let us hear what you have to say about it in the comment field below.
