PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra voted today to authorize their Negotiating Committee to offer to return to work if the Orchestra Association (management) agreed to the establishment of a Blue Ribbon panel consistent with the proposal outlined in Mayor Ed Rendell's original strike-ending recommendation.
The vote, by acclamation, came at a 10:00 a.m. meeting of Orchestra members held at the Double Tree Hotel (Broad and Locust streets). The "Blue Ribbon" proposal called for the formation of a committee involving musicians, board members and independent stakeholders to be empaneled with the support and the authority to conduct an extensive audit and management review of Orchestra Association procedures and decision making. The Panel, as proposed by the Mayor, would have the responsibility of hiring a media expert to advise the Association on all broadcast and recording obligations.
Musicians stated that they would be willing to return to work under the conditions and terms of the expired contract while the Panel conducted its review and presented its recommendations and findings.
During the period of review, the musicians and management would continue to negotiate a new contract.
"It has become evident to the musicians that management has no intention of negotiating a new agreement under the current strike conditions. Just last week, they reiterated support for their offer made on September 13, 1996, which generated a unanimous strike vote," stated chief musicians negotiator, Stuart W. Davidson, Esq.
"The musicians don't want more concerts cancelled. The musicians don't want to watch management kill this institution. If we can have the Mayor's independent review while we continue to negotiate, the musicians want to play for their patrons and supporters," stated Larry Grika, chair of the musicians' Negotiating Committee.
The prior contract expired at 12:01 a.m., September 16, 1996. The musicians have been on strike the thirty days since then.
Concerts Update
The Musicians of the Orchestra have set a time and place for a replacement concert for the first regularly scheduled "Sunday's Chamber Music Concert." The replacement concert, announced today by the musicians, will feature the same musicians playing the same repertoire as had been scheduled by orchestra management.
The replacement concert will be held on Sunday, October 20, at St. Mark's Church at 1625 Locust Street. Time: 3:00 p.m. The program will include Arnold, Loeffler and Brahms. Orchestra musicians are: Richard Woodhams, Kimberly Fisher, Herbert Light, Nitzan Haroz, Blair Bollinger, Roger Blackburn, Kiyoko Takeuti, Robert Cafaro, David Nicastro and Robert Early. Tickets are $10.00. For concert information, call 215-732-7056.
Labor Rally
Members of organized labor will attend a noon time rally sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians on the steps of the Academy of Music on Wednesday, October 16. Members of Labor are coming in from around the region and will be joined by fellow musicians and political figures in support of the musicians strike. The site for a press conference before the rally will be announced tomorrow.
For additional information, call Joe Parente, President, AFM Local 77 at 215-568-5176.
CONTACT: Stuart Davidson, Esq., 215-656-3600, or Bob Bedard, 202-546-1804 or 215-656-3600, for The Philadelphia Orchestra Members Committee. SOURCE The Philadelphia Orchestra Members Committee
CO: Philadelphia Orchestra Members Committee
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