Musicians of Colorado Springs Philharmonic calling for next steps in contract negotiations

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Negotiations to reinstate a contract between the musicians of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and Board of Directors has entered it's third month since the contract was cancelled in September.

"The lockdown orders in the spring made live performances pretty much impossible," Orchestra Players’ Committee Chair Jeremy Van Hoy said.

According to Van Hoy, he and other musicians have had to find creative ways to get by.

"Looking for other work, sometimes non-musical work to pay bills."

The hope is for musicians and the Board to come to an agreement soon, after cutting ties earlier this year.

The Union issued a statement Sunday, calling for independent arbitration, following unsuccessful mediation attempts.

"As CEO, my concern always is the safety of the audience, the musicians, our staff and our volunteers. This year, we're expecting to lose $2.5 million, at least, in ticket revenue," Board of Directors CEO Nathan Newbrough said.

The Board maintains cancelation was its only reasonable alternative, at the time, due to the pandemic and said it has offered alternate solutions for work since then.

"The Board was faced with some really impossible choices and what we know is that the organization has been unable to perform concerts since March, and we are in the large event business."

The last offer from the Board of Directors proposed $716,000 in wages, taxes and benefits while implementing a plan for small-scale performances that followed health guidelines.

"The Board felt like that was an appropriate risk to take, a very uncomfortable risk," Newbrough said.

70 percent of the full offer was guaranteed even if all concerts were canceled. The offer would also continue pension contributions, monthly health subsidy payments and unlimited paid leave.

The Union rejected the offer on Sept. 14th, on the grounds that its five-year contract cancellation was illegal.
 
"We've told them that as soon as we can put the legal threats behind us, we will come back to the table and make a deal with them that's, in many ways, just like the deal that was cancelled, " Newbrough said.

Meantime, the Union has created a series of video performances online for the public. It's also started a petition to reinstate the contract, with more than 1,500 signatures.