Posted by Bill on September 11, 2000 at 14:54:45:
In Reply to: Strike Votes _vs_ mgmt -vs- union-bustin posted by Concerned in CA on September 11, 2000 at 12:04:19:
Your observation is a valid one; several regional orchestras have been attacked at nearly the same time by an attempt to end union representation in these orchestras. It would
benefit the recording industry if there were fewer union orchestras to deal with when making recordings. The attempt happens periodically as these regional orchestras face
negotiations. In an Orchestra (ballet, Symphony) setting, there is always pressure to
play for less than the negotiated scale since the union's always attempt to get a living wage for the average guy in the orchestra. I know of no "nation-wide" strike votes except in national settings (Ringling Circus, Recording contracts). Some of the regional strikes are protracted, like the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. The management is now trying to bring in Czech musicians to replace the striking orchestra members. Last Chirstmas,
they attempted to use students, from Florida. Thus, the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra is on the Internaational Unfair List and no Union musician will play for it without risking heavy fines. I have found that Union Orchestras are usually easier to work in since there is a structure for dealing with issues as they arrise and everyone knows the structure. The salaries are usually better, too. But the largest advantage to musicians comes in recordings where the master contract calls for residuals and more pay for
reuse. It is this issue that the industry would like eliminated, and so they attack
Unions at all levels to reduce the pool of working musicians whom they can then pressure
more directly and more effectively.