Negotiations between the Fort Wayne Philharmonic management and the players association continue as musicians near two months on strike.
Following a meeting Sunday, musicians put out a statement saying management is demanding “unprecedented elimination of musicians’ workplace bargaining rights.”
Musicians spokesperson Campbell MacDonald said via text management is trying to remove the union’s ability to bargain workplace issues that arise that aren’t covered in the agreement.
MacDonald said that bargaining ability is a “core tenet of a union contract, because it is impossible to cover everything that may happen in the workplace.” He says management wants a “dictatorial power” over bargaining.
As of Monday morning, Fort Wayne Philharmonic management has not responded to a request for comment.
Musicians have been on strike since Dec. 8. Since the decision to strike, at least one musician has taken a job opportunity with another orchestra. The next bargaining meeting has not been scheduled yet.
