DSOM to Lead 2010 Labor Day Parade
CONTACT: Honore Stockley
(315) 422-4488 ext. 104
honore@bentley-hall.com
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Musicians
to Lead 2010 Labor Day Parade
> The Labor Day Parade will be a continued effort to bring attention to the importance of union workers and the high level of skill and tradition associated with union musicians.
WHAT: The Prestigious Detroit Labor Day Parade
WHEN: Monday, September 6, 2010
TIME: Staging 7:30-8:30 AM at Detroit Symphony Parking Lot
> Detroit AFL-CIO President Saundra L. Williams has invited the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) musicians and the Detroit Federation of Musicians to lead Detroit's Labor Day Parade in support of the musicians' fight to save the orchestra.
> At stake in the fight: The future of a symphony orchestra internationally regarded as among the country's best, one of metro Detroit's cultural gems, and a local symbol of excellence for a city in dire need of such symbols.
> Also at stake: The future of other symphony orchestras, should the DSO management model of deep cuts to salaries and benefits and refusal to negotiate spread nationwide.
> Management's new proposal: Cuts salaries by 33%, drastically cuts health insurance, and eliminates contributions to the pension plans. It also eliminates previous three-year contracts' guarantee of final-year partial restoration of some of the cuts, closing for good the DSO's opportunity to regain its No. 10 ranking among U.S. symphony orchestras.
> This contract, called Proposal B, is even harsher than Proposal A, which had been on the table until August 28. Proposal B had been used as a way to threaten musicians to agree to Proposal A by August 28, and when they did not, it became management's standing offer.
> In Proposal A, management had demanded salary cuts upward of 28% in the first year, plus other significant concessions.
> Because of the economic crisis and the DSO's financial problems, the musicians had placed on the table a proposal agreeing to more than $9 million in cuts in salary and benefits, including cuts of 22% in next year's annual scale, 14% in 2012, and 8% in 2013. That was on top of the $3.4 million in concessions the musicians have made in the past two contracts.
> Management refused to consider the musicians' proposal.
> Management's proposals also call for leaving open 14 orchestra positions that are currently unfilled.
> Under management's proposed contract, the DSO would fall from 10th to 19th in the rankings of American symphony orchestras.
> What this drop to 19th would mean: The DSO may no longer be able to attract the best musicians to audition to replace DSO musicians moving to other major orchestras. Six have already left over the past three years. The DSO may no longer get the internationally renowned guest conductors and artists who usually prefer to perform with Top Ten orchestras. It may no longer remain the world-class orchestra its audiences enjoy and deserve.
> Showing support: Among the marchers in the Labor Day Parade will be AFM International President Ray Hair who states: "Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians, again struggling against severe, unjustified concessions sought by the DSO's management, have the unconditional and unerring support of the entire membership of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. By attempting to fund management failures with musicians' livelihoods, pension and health benefits, the company may ultimately cause the demise of one of the world's finest orchestras - a priceless artistic treasure -- that has done nothing but bring joy to the citizens of Detroit and the world."
* Donations are accepted: www.detroitsymphonymusicians.org
ABOUT THE AFM
Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO, is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 90,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, videogames, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape. For more information, contact the main number at (212) 869-1330 or visit the Web site at www.afm.org.
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LOCAL 5, DETROIT FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS
"Home of the Pros"—We are truly the professionals in the Live Performance Music Business: the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra; the Fisher & Fox Theater Orchestras; our Detroit Jazz Artists; the studio and commercial recording musicians; and of course, the very best in live performance musical groups. We are the musicians who created the original Motown sound.
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