Saturday, September 22, 2012

Obama's Chicago: Now Musicians On Strike

From the Chicago Tribune: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance this evening at Symphony Center has been canceled because musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have gone on strike, officials said.
The concert at Symphony Center was to begin at 8 p.m. but was canceled after musicians went on strike, according to Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association President Deborah Rutter, who called it a "sad night" for the symphony orchestra.

"We're very disappointed that we're not presenting for another full house of very enthusiastic patrons," Rutter said in a short press conference.

Among some of the proposed terms, Rutter said musicians were offered salary increases in each year of the 3-year contract, and health benefit packages that totaled about $18,000 per musician. The association also asked musicians to increase their health benefit contribution from five to 12 percent.
In the union's most recent contract, which expired last week, the musicians' base minimum pay increased by 23 percent over a five year period, Rutter said. The average salary for musicians during the last year of the contract was $173,000.

Officials said rehearsals and concerts took place as scheduled earlier this week. However, during today’s meeting, the musicians left the negotiating table and proceeded to strike, officials said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-saturdays-cso-concert-canceled-after-musicians-strike-20120922,0,5884537.story
First, I am kind of surprised to see how much musicians make.
But it seems like the City of Chicago is falling apart with strikes, murders and other violent crimes and staggering city and school debt.
Nothing like a Democrat led city, which is what Obama seems to want for the rest of the U.S..

No comments:

Post a Comment