Fort Wayne Philharmonic Continues Strike with Rejection of Most Recent Offer

January 29, 2023

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In mid-January, musicians for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic rejected the most recent contract offer from management. While the parties have reached agreement on wages for a four-year contract, the strike continues because management is demanding a number of changes to the contract that serve no immediate purpose but would severely undermine musicians’ rights during the term of the agreement.

Chief among these changes is a grossly expanded management rights provision that would allow the employer to make unilateral changes in mandatory subjects of bargaining and decimate musicians’ bargaining rights in unprecedented ways. Also destructive are management proposals to cut positions and to eliminate musicians’ longstanding ability to schedule teaching and other compensated work during prime weekday after-school hours. With base pay of $22,060.64, musicians rely on this work to make ends meet.

“The Philharmonic’s proposal for job cuts and elimination of our workplace rights is unacceptable,” says Campbell MacDonald, Players Association spokesperson and a member of Local 58 (Fort Wayne, IN). “We will remain on strike until the Fort Wayne Philharmonic removes their unnecessary roadblocks to a resolution.”

The strike began in early December. The organization will no longer pay for musicians’ health insurance beginning February 1, and all concerts and events have been canceled through February. The Philharmonic was placed on the AFM’s International Unfair List in December and Unfair Labor Practice charges have been filed.

Please Support the Musicians of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic! Checks may be sent to: Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players’ Association, 515 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802; or via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3G3uvAj

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