Drew McManus received word this morning that the musicians of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra are filing a claim with the National Labor Relations Board that the orchestra’s administration (including its director and board) locked out the musicians illegally.
The press release, written by an attorney for the American Federation of Musicians Local 444, claims that the lock out, put in effect on Nov. 13 by the JSO’s administration, violates the law which makes clear that parties in labor negotiations “refrain from striking or locking out until 60 days have passed after the service of notice.”
Here’s the press release . . .
Jacksonville Symphony Association Charged with Illegal Lockout
The Negotiating Committee of the Jacksonville Symphony Players’ Association has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. They are alleging that the Jacksonville Symphony Association’s lockout is unlawful because the law requires the parties to refrain from striking or locking out until 60 days have passed after the service of notice. This lockout occurred prior to the expiration of the 60 day period.
In addition to requesting full back pay for any lost wages and benefits, the musicians have also asked the NLRB to seek an injunction directing the JSA to bring the orchestra back to work.
For further information, contact Attorney for American Federation of Musicians Local 444.
One Comment
I am a member of the JSO Chorus. The lockout was a scam cooked up by the Symphony Management.
The real reason for the lockout was that the Dinner Theater performers that were supposed to do the music Man were no where near ready. So, the performances had to be postponed because of that.
The Management cooked up the lockout as a way of not having to pay the musicians their salaries for the week. They never intended for the lockout to extend beyond that weekend.
What has happened is that the management thinks the players are a bunch of lazy prima donas that only work 20 hours a week. The fact that the 159K a year Executive Director thinks that the players can live on an average salary of $41K tells the entire story.
It is the management that has failed to do a proper job of fundraising. They have failed.