Friends,
Many of you know that the 95 union musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Players' Association, have been locked out by the ASO management and Woodruff Arts Center management. Although the musicians have offered many concessions, management wants more and has even cut off the musicians' health insurance! The first concert is scheduled for October 4, so this coming week will be crucial.
You can find out many details on the Players’ Association web site www.ATLSymphonyMusicians.com . A few facts and ways we can help--pasted below—were taken directly from the web site.
Facts:
- As of August 26th, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians have been without any pay or benefits, also known as being locked out.
- On August 31, health, dental, and disability insurance policies for all musicians, several of whom are battling cancer and other debilitating health crises, have also been cancelled by the Woodruff Arts Center as threatened.
- Musicians have offered $4 million in concessions over two years and to contribute more for their health insurance, but the ASO management wants more.
- The musicians point out that between 2006 and 2012, ASO staff compensation increased 49.5% while musicians’ compensation increased 16% (inflation was 14% between 2006 and 2012).
How we can help: Email and/or phone those in charge! And send a letter-to-the-editor to the newspapers suggested below. The musicians also say they will appreciate our sending a copy of our correspondence to them at ATLSymphonyMusicians@gmail.com
Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph.D.,
President
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Jim Abrahamson
Chair of the ASO BoardJim.Abrahamson@
Virginia Hepner (write emails to the WAC Executive Board to her)
President & CEO
Woodruff Arts CenterVirginia.Hepner@
Larry Gellerstedt, III
Chair of Executive Board of Woodruff Arts Center
Howard Feinsand
Finance Chair
To submit a letter to the editor of the AJC:
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/
Creative Loafing:letters.atl@creativeloafing.
Atlanta Business Chronicle, click on the contact the editor tab to submit:
http://www.bizjournals.com/
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/
Creative Loafing:letters.atl@creativeloafing.
Atlanta Business Chronicle, click on the contact the editor tab to submit:
http://www.bizjournals.com/
