Fort Wayne Philharmonic musicians overwhelmingly voted ‘no’ on management’s most recent proposal to end the musician strike, leading management to cancel concerts through February.
Philharmonic management had called this offer their “best and final,” but musicians spokesperson Campbell MacDonald said that’s a label management chose.
He called the current proposal “injurious” to the quality of the orchestra.
“It would alter long-standing procedures that have established partnerships between musicians and management," MacDonald said. "And we find it unacceptable.”
While musicians have said they agree to management’s latest wage proposal, the parties continue to disagree on cuts to musicians and a greater handle on musicians' free time.
Musicians had been working on an expired contract since September, before announcing their strike on Dec. 8.
Since then, musicians have put on a number of free concerts in place of the canceled holiday concerts.
MacDonald said they have more in the works.
Musicians have received healthcare benefits during the strike, but the board voted in December to end those benefits on February 1 as a cost-saving measure.
The full list of canceled events includes concert dates and community engagement events;
Jan. 28 – Yefim Bronfman Plays Rachmaninoff
Feb. 4 – Ann Hampton Callaway Sings The Streisand Songbook
Feb. 2 – Jackson R. Lehman YMCA, Stories in Music: Where the Wild Things Are
Feb. 7 – Warsaw Public Library, Stories in Music: Peter & the Wolf
Feb. 8 – Parkview Family YMCA, Stories in Music: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Feb. 9 – Jorgensen Family YMCA, Stories in Music: Where the Wild Things Are
Feb. 9 – Freimann Quartet Plays Fanny Mendelssohn
Feb. 11 – Johnny Appleseed Goes to the Symphony
Feb. 12 – Freimann Quartet Plays Fanny Mendelssohn
Feb. 18 – Beethoven Violin Concerto
