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Philharmonic Management to file regressive bargaining charges against striking musicians

Members of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players' Association gather outside of their union office in downtown Fort Wayne to announce the possibility of a strike on Thursday, December 9, 2022.
FILE PHOTO: Ella Abbott
/
WBOI News
Members of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players' Association gather outside of their union office in downtown Fort Wayne to announce the possibility of a strike on Thursday, December 9, 2022.

The Fort Wayne Philharmonic management is filing regressive bargaining charges against the Players’ Association, after nearly a month of the musicians’ strike.

Management and the union met Wednesday afternoon for five hours, but once again failed to reach an agreement.

In a release following the meeting, management said “there have been four unproductive sessions in which the union has shown unwillingness to negotiate in good faith.” The Philharmonic will file the charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

Prior to management’s announcement, the association said in a statement they were reviewing a proposal presented at the end of Wednesday’s meeting.

Association spokesperson Campbell MacDonald said in a statement the charge “is meant to distract our community” from management’s treatment of musicians. He also said musicians have “never engaged in regressive bargaining.”

Prior to the end of Wednesday’s meeting, management said they proposed wage increases of 42 percent over four years.

Musicians have been on strike since December 8. The two parties will meet for another negotiation today.

The full statements from both parties can be found below: