LA_MERC_MadMAX
May 19th, 2003, 07:52 PM
I guess it's because a musician and for the better part of the last 4 years (i recently quit) I have been a part of a Symphony orchestra, but this is really sad:
Orchestra musicians file for jobless benefits
Players dismiss board letter, skip rehearsal
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By CHRIS KENNING and JUDITH EGERTON
The Courier-Journal
BY NICK TOMECEK, SPECIAL TO THE COURIER-JOURNAL
Louisville Orchestra members Charles Brestel, right, and Joe Parrish, center, waited to fill out forms requesting unemployment benefits. They haven't been paid since April 15.
With personal bills mounting and no word on when they might be paid, Louisville Orchestra musicians in concert attire filed for unemployment benefits yesterday and chose not to rehearse last night for upcoming concerts.
Timothy Zavadil, a clarinetist and the players' spokesman, said the musicians were "not providing services'' for the rehearsal because they had not received assurance from the orchestra board and management about when they would receive their next paycheck.
Board president Phil McHugh said that the board delivered a letter to the musicians last night that said they would be paid for the life of their contract if they agree to a 5 percent pay cut and a four-week reduction in the orchestra's performance schedule. That proposal previously was given to the musicians' union leaders April 23 and is a revised offer from one made to the union in December, McHugh said.
The contract with the musicians runs through Aug. 31, 2005. Because of a sharp drop in income, the orchestra is facing a deficit of about $800,000. The musicians, staff and conductors have not been paid since April 15.
Zavadil declined to characterize the decision not to rehearse as a walkout. He said the decision was a result of the board's unwillingness to give "unconditional leave'' to players who wanted to seek other work while not being paid. He also said the musicians see the April 23 offer as the same 17 percent pay cut that they previously had been asked to take.
After a late-afternoon meeting of the orchestra's executive board, McHugh said, "We can't provide unconditional leave if we have concerts scheduled.'' But he noted that if the musicians agree to the proposal for a shorter performance season, they would have a more flexible schedule and could seek additional income.
The musicians' decision not to rehearse puts several scheduled concerts in question. The orchestra is booked for a US Bank Coffee Concert on Thursday, a Hilliard Lyons MasterWorks concert Saturday and a performance Friday night in Corydon, Ind.
Rehearsals are scheduled for today and tomorrow, but the musicians did not commit to them last night. Zavadil said a decision will be made before each rehearsal. McHugh, meanwhile, said he is confident the musicians will play the concerts so they can give the community an opportunity to support the orchestra by buying tickets.
Earlier yesterday, nearly 50 musicians wearing tuxedos and black dresses were ushered into the Louisville branch of the state Department for Employment Services, where they filled out paperwork.
Zavadil said the musicians' attorney had determined the orchestra members were eligible for benefits because they had suffered a "constructive discharge," since the cash-strapped orchestra failed to meet its payroll obligations April 30.
"These are all people who haven't been paid since April 15th. (They) have bills and mortgages," he said, adding that the group hasn't heard anything from management as to when they would get their next paycheck.
The orchestra is facing an $800,000 deficit in this year's operating budget of $6.1million, mainly because a depressed stock market has cut income derived from the orchestra's endowment investments.
Earlier this year, the orchestra board asked the players for $600,000 in concessions per season for the life of the current contract. The players refused, saying the board had not done enough to raise money.
They did, however, agree to play four concerts that had been scheduled during Kentucky Derby week, hoping that would bring in enough money so they could be paid. Those concerts included a public one Wednesday at Southeast Christian Church, where "a love offering'' was collected for the orchestra. McHugh declined to say how much the orchestra received for those concerts.
At the state Employment Services office yesterday, Steve Taylor, a violinist and 25-year orchestra veteran, said he had never sought unemployment benefits during the concert season. But his wife recently lost her job and bills are piling up.
"There's a lot of stress and uncertainty right now," Taylor said.
Jack Howard, manager of the employment office, said the musicians, who stood next to people wearing T-shirts and sweat pants, were definitely the "best-dressed applicants we've ever had." But whether they'll qualify for benefits is less clear, he said.
Beneficiaries typically need to have been fired, laid off or left without work because a company closes, for example. Howard said his understanding was the musicians were still working with the hope of being paid.
Howard said that he had never heard of a "constructive discharge" but that officials would review the applications, along with any response from orchestra management, and make a determination within several days.
The base salary of Louisville orchestra musicians is $33,000, Zavadil said. Most of the string players, who make up the majority of the orchestra, earn the base amount. Zavadil, who has been with the orchestra for five years, makes slightly more. If the orchestra players qualify for unemployment benefits, they will receive about $300 a week — the state standard, Zavadil said.
The musicians recently set four requirements for continuing to work. They demanded that the orchestra board and management team:
Estimate when they will pay the musicians.
Deliver a plan for how the orchestra will meet future payrolls (the next comes due May 14).
Not oppose musicians' applications for unemployment benefits.
Grant unconditional leave to any musician who wants to accept short-term employment.
Orchestra musicians file for jobless benefits
Players dismiss board letter, skip rehearsal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By CHRIS KENNING and JUDITH EGERTON
The Courier-Journal
BY NICK TOMECEK, SPECIAL TO THE COURIER-JOURNAL
Louisville Orchestra members Charles Brestel, right, and Joe Parrish, center, waited to fill out forms requesting unemployment benefits. They haven't been paid since April 15.
With personal bills mounting and no word on when they might be paid, Louisville Orchestra musicians in concert attire filed for unemployment benefits yesterday and chose not to rehearse last night for upcoming concerts.
Timothy Zavadil, a clarinetist and the players' spokesman, said the musicians were "not providing services'' for the rehearsal because they had not received assurance from the orchestra board and management about when they would receive their next paycheck.
Board president Phil McHugh said that the board delivered a letter to the musicians last night that said they would be paid for the life of their contract if they agree to a 5 percent pay cut and a four-week reduction in the orchestra's performance schedule. That proposal previously was given to the musicians' union leaders April 23 and is a revised offer from one made to the union in December, McHugh said.
The contract with the musicians runs through Aug. 31, 2005. Because of a sharp drop in income, the orchestra is facing a deficit of about $800,000. The musicians, staff and conductors have not been paid since April 15.
Zavadil declined to characterize the decision not to rehearse as a walkout. He said the decision was a result of the board's unwillingness to give "unconditional leave'' to players who wanted to seek other work while not being paid. He also said the musicians see the April 23 offer as the same 17 percent pay cut that they previously had been asked to take.
After a late-afternoon meeting of the orchestra's executive board, McHugh said, "We can't provide unconditional leave if we have concerts scheduled.'' But he noted that if the musicians agree to the proposal for a shorter performance season, they would have a more flexible schedule and could seek additional income.
The musicians' decision not to rehearse puts several scheduled concerts in question. The orchestra is booked for a US Bank Coffee Concert on Thursday, a Hilliard Lyons MasterWorks concert Saturday and a performance Friday night in Corydon, Ind.
Rehearsals are scheduled for today and tomorrow, but the musicians did not commit to them last night. Zavadil said a decision will be made before each rehearsal. McHugh, meanwhile, said he is confident the musicians will play the concerts so they can give the community an opportunity to support the orchestra by buying tickets.
Earlier yesterday, nearly 50 musicians wearing tuxedos and black dresses were ushered into the Louisville branch of the state Department for Employment Services, where they filled out paperwork.
Zavadil said the musicians' attorney had determined the orchestra members were eligible for benefits because they had suffered a "constructive discharge," since the cash-strapped orchestra failed to meet its payroll obligations April 30.
"These are all people who haven't been paid since April 15th. (They) have bills and mortgages," he said, adding that the group hasn't heard anything from management as to when they would get their next paycheck.
The orchestra is facing an $800,000 deficit in this year's operating budget of $6.1million, mainly because a depressed stock market has cut income derived from the orchestra's endowment investments.
Earlier this year, the orchestra board asked the players for $600,000 in concessions per season for the life of the current contract. The players refused, saying the board had not done enough to raise money.
They did, however, agree to play four concerts that had been scheduled during Kentucky Derby week, hoping that would bring in enough money so they could be paid. Those concerts included a public one Wednesday at Southeast Christian Church, where "a love offering'' was collected for the orchestra. McHugh declined to say how much the orchestra received for those concerts.
At the state Employment Services office yesterday, Steve Taylor, a violinist and 25-year orchestra veteran, said he had never sought unemployment benefits during the concert season. But his wife recently lost her job and bills are piling up.
"There's a lot of stress and uncertainty right now," Taylor said.
Jack Howard, manager of the employment office, said the musicians, who stood next to people wearing T-shirts and sweat pants, were definitely the "best-dressed applicants we've ever had." But whether they'll qualify for benefits is less clear, he said.
Beneficiaries typically need to have been fired, laid off or left without work because a company closes, for example. Howard said his understanding was the musicians were still working with the hope of being paid.
Howard said that he had never heard of a "constructive discharge" but that officials would review the applications, along with any response from orchestra management, and make a determination within several days.
The base salary of Louisville orchestra musicians is $33,000, Zavadil said. Most of the string players, who make up the majority of the orchestra, earn the base amount. Zavadil, who has been with the orchestra for five years, makes slightly more. If the orchestra players qualify for unemployment benefits, they will receive about $300 a week — the state standard, Zavadil said.
The musicians recently set four requirements for continuing to work. They demanded that the orchestra board and management team:
Estimate when they will pay the musicians.
Deliver a plan for how the orchestra will meet future payrolls (the next comes due May 14).
Not oppose musicians' applications for unemployment benefits.
Grant unconditional leave to any musician who wants to accept short-term employment.