by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Symphony Association and the Jacksonville Symphony Players’ Association met into the early hours Tuesday morning discussing the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s contract. An agreement was not met, and as a result, the Association has suspended operations on a week-by-week basis, said Alan Hopper, the Symphony’s executive director.
“They (the musicians) did not go on strike,” said Hopper. “We are not locking the doors. We have suspended operations and pay.”
Suspending operations includes canceling the Symphony’s upcoming performances of “The Music Man.” Overall, five concerts were scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, but have been rescheduled for May 29-31.
“We are very disappointed in the interruption of this concert. It was something new we were trying,” said Hopper, adding “The Music Man” will be rescheduled.
The Association and the Musicians Union have been meeting since the beginning of September to negotiate a new contract which expired Aug. 31.
“We have a $3 million accumulated deficit in the past 10 years, with a substantial deficit in the last two years,” said Hopper. “We have reexamined everything done from a program standpoint and analyzed all revenue streams.
“We are trying to build a model based on predictable revenue (the many lines of income) and not based on expenses. We can’t base our ongoing budget on expenses.”
Hopper hopes the Association and the Union will reach a settlement sooner rather than later.
“This can go on for a long time unfortunately. We want the Union to work with us to meet our goals and theirs,” he said. “Hopefully we will re-engage in good dialogue between us to reach an agreement.”
The Association proposed a five-year contract to gain stability in revenues, he said. The Musicians’ Union countered with a three-year contract.
“There really was not much explanation why they only proposed a three-year contract,” said Hopper.
Hopper said recent local government funding cuts caused the Association to look at funding at several levels.
“To build a sustainable future, we really need to be mindful of our expenses,” he said.
Kevin Casseday, spokesman for the Jacksonville Symphony Players’ Association, said the Symphony management gave the Union its final offer.
“We took 60 copies over to the orchestra and went over it for three hours,” he said. “We absolutely wouldn’t live with it.
“We feel the capacity of the Jacksonville area has grown so much, we shouldn’t be going backwards.”
Casseday said the Union proposed a three-year contract for a reason.
“If we are being asked (to take) a pay decrease, we need a recovery,” he said.
Casseday, who has been a musician with the Symphony for 22 years, said they have not yet decided when they will meet again to discuss the contract.
“We love playing here,” he said. “We hope we can make it to where we are all comfortable playing for the Jacksonville community.”