SPCO musicians pleased with tentative agreement

“We are pleased to finally say that we have mutually agreed to a proposal that will be taken to the musicians for ratification once the Society and the American Federation of Musicians reach an agreement on media,” Carole Mason-Smith, co-chair of the SPCO Musicians Negotiating Committee, said in a statement on the musician’s website.

“We are excited to return to the stage as quickly as possible,” she said.

The musicians of the SPCO have been locked out for more than 22 weeks. Their contract expired Sept. 30, 2012, and management imposed the lockout on Oct. 21, 2012. During the lockout, the musicians offered some performances on their own, with the help of guest conductors, and many musicians traveled to other states for work.

The tentative deal announced Tuesday was reached with the help of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.

If approved the musicians’ annual pay will be cut by $15,000 and the orchestra will be reduced by six players to 28, Minnesota Public Radio reported. However the musicians will have greater artistic control over the SPCO’s performances and repertoire.

Before the new pact can be sent to members for a vote, the orchestra and American Federation of Musicians must reach agreement on Internet and broadcast use of SPCO performances, the union said. It’s not clear when the orchestra would be able to resume its schedule.

Musicians at the Minnesota Orchestra remain locked out. They will hold a concert on their own with Minnesota Orchestra Conductor Laureate Stanislaw Skrowaczewski on April 25. More information on tickets can be found here.

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