President's Report

My personal wish to each of you and your families for a joyous and happy holiday season…

Membership Drive

Our membership drive has been quite successful. There is still time; if you know someone who is interested, please have them contact us prior to the end of the year to take advantage of this opportunity …

PTG-Florida

Talks have begun with Pace Theatrical Group (PTG) regarding the renegotiation of their CBA. PTG produces the major touring Broadway shows here in South Florida. We held numerous negotiating committee meetings to make sure we had input from the musicians performing these shows. Meetings with Bob Persi, Local 655 member and contractor for PTG, and subsequently with John Poland (General Manager) followed. Talks are continuing and we will keep you updated as we proceed.

Palm Beach Opera

A year and a half of effort to get a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on behalf of the members of the Palm Beach Opera appears to be nearing completion. We have an agreement in principle, with final language fine-tuning due shortly, and then a ratification vote by the orchestra. I believe we have an excellent agreement that will serve the orchestra well into the future …

Florida Philharmonic

Four grievances have recently been settled, and two more were sent to the American Arbitration Association for arbitration. Musicians should already have received an extra payment for the Giaconda grievance. Recently, Ben Chruszcz’s Wrongful Demotion case went to arbitration and a tentative settlement was reached; final disposition has yet to be determined. We will continue to try and resolve the remaining grievances.

In a dispute with the Florida Grand Opera over its right to the electronic media provisions of the Florida Philharmonic CBA, members of the orchestra, with the assistance of Local 655 and AFM Special Assistant Dick Gabriel, refused to play at one of the final rehearsals for the opera production of Rigoletto (see page 4 for more information). It was a strong showing by the members of the orchestra standing up to an injustice. The Florida Philharmonic took Local 655 to U.S. District Court and received an injunction against us. We will continue to object to this situation, but will use the grievance and arbitration procedure as ordered by the courts as we prepare for next year’s negotiations…

Atlanta Ballet

With the members of the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra on strike, James Brooks-Bruzzese and his Symphony of the Americas were instrumental in an attempt to put together a "scab" orchestra from South Florida. They were to cross the picket line in Atlanta and perform the Nutcracker, undermining those professional musicians in Atlanta who are attempting to improve their working conditions. We find the actions of Brooks reprehensible! This goes far beyond a union issue; just the idea of taking someone else’s job while they are in a dispute is just beyond my comprehension! We have renamed the orchestra the "Scab-Cracker" Orchestra. To the credit of the Local 655 musicians that were asked to play the engagement, to our knowledge, every one of them turned the work down. Bravo! During the final hours before the first scheduled rehearsal, some names were mentioned as musicians that might possibly be playing this engagement. Unfortunately, some were accused before anyone asked if they were involved. To these individuals, we apologize. We will publish a list of the musicians falsely accused, along with a list of the individuals that actually did play the engagement. We urge you not to perform with any musician who crossed this picket line. In addition, we have asked AFM President Steve Young to place James Brooks-Bruzzese and the Symphony of the Americas on the Unfair List for this despicable action. …

In Memoriam

Our deepest sympathy to past President Alan Kole on the loss of his wife June. No words are adequate in these situations, but our thoughts are with you Alan. …

I’ll stay in touch; you do the same…

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