Musicians reject latest ISO offer

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Leaders of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians say it’s time for orchestra management to give a little. Richard Graef, the Chairman of the Musicians Negotiating Committee, says his colleagues are willing to make significant concessions to help the ISO. But, Graef says they can’t accept the orchestra’s new contract offer.

Graef, a French horn player, says the musicians are sacrificing 32 percent of their wages in the early years of the proposal – but only “because there was a partial recovery in the end.” They had counted on a contract that restored some of their concessions in the later years of the deal. The new offer carries a termination option.

The ISO website describes the offer as a five year deal. The termination option would be “effective at the end of year 3. Either party can exercise the option with one year’s notice (at the end of year 2). However, it says if the orchestra is “able to raise $5 million in new donations before March 31, 2013, the termination option will be removed from the agreement.”

Jerry Montgomery, also a French horn player, says the musicians “would not have gone quite as low [in their concessions] were it not for the partial recovery we made in the last two years [of the contract] And those are the two years that they want to be able to opt out of.”

On Monday, the ISO released the following as its “Conditional Offer” to the musicians.

Yr 1 $53,000
Yr 2 $57,000
Yr 3 $60,000
Yr 4 $64,000
Yr 5 $70,000

Graef says negotiators for both sides had an agreement in principle. “We really thought we were very close to solving this situation,” he told 24 Hour News 8. But, as he describes it, the orchestra management changed course. Then, with the addition of the termination option, it “was a complete no-go before they offered it to us and they were well aware of that.”

The ISO says it needs to “reset its current business model. ” The organization’s web site acknowledges the “unprecedented concessions” being made by its musicians. In its update on negotiations, it also praises “significant fundraising commitments by the Board and management as part of a five year plan.” The ISO says the proposal presented October 1 carries a deadline of October 6 at 6 p,m.

The orchestra wants to get back on stage. It’s had to cancel performances since locking-out the musicians during this contract dispute.

Jerry Montgomery says negotiators will meet on Friday and Saturday. “We hope they have a new approach and some new numbers,” he told us.

Graef says the musicians will appear on stage together, Sunday. “It’s a concert about the music. It’s not about musicians being on strike,” Graef said. “We’re there to play and give back to our audiences who support us and hope to see us back on stage at the Circle Theater. This show, at the Palladium in Carmel, will feature pianist Andre Watts. I

“We’re going to find a way to play,” Graef said.