Here’s an email I received this morning from OSO president Elaine Calder, in response to my request for an elaboration on the talking points from her interview with David Stabler which he subsequently used as the basis for his video update on the Oregonian website.
Hi Charles,
I haven’t seen David’s video yet. We have asked your negotiating team to consider cuts totaling around $750,000 – which as I pointed out to your committee and to David represents almost $10,000 per musician. We know this is an enormous ask of a group of people who don’t earn huge salaries to begin with. We also know that people in Oregon and elsewhere in the country are taking cuts of as much as 25% in order to preserve their jobs.
We don’t expect to get agreement on every point, and yes, this figure does include changes to the heath care insurance. It’s a negotiated process and so far the discussions have been constructive, considerate and very thoughtful. I know at least one member of your committee has lost a lot of sleep trying to come up with a restructuring of the health care insurance plans that would save us money and maintain coverage, and I know we are all working together on the challenges.
At the League conference in Chicago last week it occurred to me that the overriding objectives for us – the Oregon Symphony, and not necessarily for any other orchestra – should be 1) to survive, 2) to protect and 3) to ensure we have sufficient flexibility to meet whatever happens to the overall economy. I realize that “flexibility” is considered the “F” word in some orchestras, but I believe there’s a willingness here to find a “Portland way” of working.
Realistically, “survive” may not mean continuing exactly as we are, but there’s a lot of good that can come of re-evaluating programs and practices every once in a while, in good times as well as bad.
By “protect” I mean do all we can, collectively, to preserve the jobs and incomes of our current employees, both in the orchestra and on the staff. Again maintaining status quo is proving impossible, but I think the decision to move to two Kaiser plans is a good example of protecting current employees at a lower cost.
As for flexibility, it’s becoming clear no one knows what is happening in the economy, how long the recovery will take, if any, or if this is the “new normal”. I think arguing about which of the economists and analysts should be trusted is a waste of time, and we should accept that for the next few years we are going to be dealing with a lot of uncertainty and unpredictability. It will be very easy to deal with improvements in the economy if they materialize, but we need to be braced for the worst.
I think the musicians themselves have started exploring these ideas, with the review of our calendar and the ideas that the scheduling committee has circulated.
I hope this helps. Please forward it to anyone who contacts you and feel free to post any or all of it on your blog. I’m copying the members of the negotiating teams, so they know what is being said.
Best,
E
Elaine Calder
President
Oregon Symphony Association
921 SW Washington Street, Suite 200
Portland, ORÂ 97205