While the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) continues to advertise internationally for its auditions, musicians are cautioned to steer clear of this symphony known for its egregious contract violations. The boycott began in 2012 when nine key musicians—among them the concertmaster, co-concertmaster, tutti first violin, tutti first viola, principal timpani, and principal trombone—were suddenly terminated. While no reason was given, it is suspected that it was an intimidation tactic before presenting the remaining musicians with a new contract that they were asked to sign and return within a few days.

Aside from trying to hire replacement musicians under far-inferior contracts (working for 25% less in some cases and two-year posts with “no expectation of renewal”), the symphony has since committed more assaults on worker rights. In order to take unpaid leave (for performances, auditions, etc.), not only do musicians lose salary, but they are required to pay expenses (air travel, accommodations, and salary) for the sub. At the start of the 2014/2015 season, members returned to a contract that redefines “legitimate” children for the purpose of benefits. Children from common-law marriages are no longer provided visas, health insurance, school subsidies, etc. This included two 16-year principal wind players who have a child together. They went as far as to tell the mother that she is no longer recognized by MPO as the child’s legal guardian.

Employees at Guitar Center retail stores have been told that they must sign a mandatory arbitration agreement in order to keep their jobs. Under the agreement the employees lose their right to sue the company in class action lawsuits in disputes over wage violations, workplace discrimination, unjust firings, and other issues. The use of arbitrators, that are often cozy with the hiring company, weakens worker power and preempts possible collective action. Nowadays, such clauses are often tucked into company “welcome” packets for new hires to sign.

In 2013, the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) won elections in three Guitar Center stores, but there is still no contract at any of them. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) general counsel has accused the company of refusing to bargain in good faith. NLRB has declared that agreements similar to the arbitration papers Guitar Center employees are bing asked to sign illegally infringe on a worker’s right to “protected concerted activity” with colleagues.

We’re analyzing the agreement in light of the labor board’s recent cases. We’re considering filing a new charge and pursuing a new round of action,” attorney Liz Vladeck who represents RWDSU told The Huffington Post.

According to The Guardian British scholar John Arthur recently discovered that the accepted composition dates for five Mozart symphonies—Symphony 24 K182 in B flat, Symphony 26 K184 in E flat, Symphony 27 K199 in G, Symphony 28 K200 in C, and Symphony 30 K202 in D—written by 17-year-old through 18-year-old Mozart are wrong. The dates at some point had been crudely crossed out and changed by anywhere from a couple days to nine months.

Though these don’t seem like huge discrepancies, considering how young Mozart was they are important and answer questions about development and influences. For example, two of the symphonies were thought to predate Mozart’s visit to Vienna in the summer of 1773. Now that we know they came afterwards, you can see influences and things Mozart learned on the Vienna trip.

On January 11 more than 60 Detroit city schools were closed when teachers staged sickouts to protest “Third World” conditions at some schools. The Detroit Federation of Teachers, which has not organized the sickouts, says teachers in some schools complain of black mold, rodents, overcrowded classes, and a lack of supplies. The schools have been under state-imposed emergency financial management for six years. Teachers are trying to draw attention to the school conditions for the sake of the children.

As West Virginia’s Republican legislature announced its plan to introduce “right to work” for less legislation, the state’s leading newspaper denounced it. In a Charleston Gazette-Mail editorial the paper said, in part: “It might be good marketing by out-of-state political interests, but it’s not good policy. What is the problem that ‘right to work’ is supposed to cure? It appears to be having any union workers in the state at all. It sounds like a cure that is worse than the disease, a prescription to drive down wages everywhere and make it less likely that injured workers will report problems before they become fatalities. Who needs more of that?” Workplace deaths are 54% higher in “right to work” states, while employee earnings are $6,000 a year lower, and seven of the 10 states with the highest unemployment rates are “right to work.”

The United Steelworkers (USW) announced that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a complaint against Asarco, LLC. This latest complaint, its third, alleges the company unlawfully implemented portions of its so-called “last, best, and final” contract proposal from on December 2015. Among the changes for Asarco workers were changes in schedule, overtime calculations, and bonuses. The NLRB has also accused the company of discrimination and interfering with workers’ rights under federal labor laws.

More than 2,000 Asarco employees, represented by eight international unions, work at Asarco copper mines and processing facilities. Their labor agreement, which initially expired on June 2013, was extended and then terminated in June 2015. A hearing is scheduled for March 15, when an administrative law judge will review evidence against Asarco and listen to testimony.

American Crystal Sugar informed union workers that the company is beginning to “prepare for the possibility of a labor dispute,” even though the current contract won’t expire until August 2017. The announcement came after an American Crystal lawyer contacted the union’s lawyer in November 2015 asking for early negotiations. Local 167G of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers union leadership said it was simply too early to reopen the contract. Crystal Sugar had wanted to extend the current contract through July 31, 2021 though some provisions, such as wages, would be up for negotiation.

“To send out a letter talking about the possibility of a strike so far in advance seems unnecessarily aggressive and counterproductive,” John Budd, a labor relations expert at the University of Minnesota told the Star Tribune. “It seems like the company is trying to pick a fight, or trying to create dissension within the rank-and-file in order to weaken the union.” The nation’s largest beat producer, Crystal has three sugar mills in Minnesota, plus two more in North Dakota.

In response to North Korea’s most recent nuclear bomb test, which it claimed was a hydrogen bomb, South Korea has amped up propaganda broadcasts aimed at the North. Aside from speech aimed at making North Korean soldiers doubt their regime, South Korea is blasting it’s own genre of music, k-pop. The music, popular in the South, but banned in the North, includes such groups as girl band Apink and boy band Big Bang. South Korean military claim the broadcasts from 11 sites along the border can be heard as far as 10 km (6.2 miles) into the North during the day, and up to 24 km (15 miles) across at night. The people of North Korea are only allowed to listen to government-controlled radio stations and television stations, though defectors have reported that South Korean popular music is frequently smuggled in on USB sticks and DVDs.

Calgary, Alberta, Mayor Naheed Nenshi has declared 2016 the Year of Music in Calgary. The city will host the Juno Awards in April, plus is home to the popular Sled Island festival. On top of that, this January marked the 30th anniversary its international arts festival, High Performance Rodeo, held January 7-30. In honor of the past 30 years of music history, the city has selected 30 tunes that best represent that history. Among those that made the play list are Local 1000 (Nongeographic) member James Keelaghan’s “Hillcrest Mine” (1989) and Local 547 (Calgary, AB) members Kris Demeanor’s “I have Seen the Future” (2007) and Anne Loree/Jann Arden’s “Insensitive” (1994).