Tino Gagliardi News

The musicians of the Met Orchestra and their union, the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, announced that they have voted to ratify a new labor agreement with the Metropolitan Opera.

Statement from Tino Gagliardi, President, Met Orchestra musicians' union Local 802, AFM:

JUST IN FROM THE UNION: The musicians of the Met Orchestra and their union, Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with the Metropolitan Opera.

At the request of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the Metropolitan Opera, Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, and the American Guild of Musical Artists have agreed to a process for continuing their discussions. It was recommended by the FMCS and all three parties have jointly agreed to retain an independent financial analyst to perform a due diligence financial study of the Met and to render a non-binding report to the parties to assist them in reaching new collective bargaining agreements. During this process the employees covered will continue to perform their regular assignments under the terms of their contracts, which expired at midnight July 31, 2014.

At the request of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the Metropolitan Opera, Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians and the American Guild of Musical Artists have agreed to a process for continuing their discussions.

This morning, the Met Orchestra and supporters rallied in Dante Park in front of Lincoln Center before resuming federally mediated negotiations under a 72-hour threat of lockout imposed by opera manager Peter Gelb. The musicians and other Met Opera artists and craftspeople, along with elected officials in NYC and the New York Times in an editorial, have called on Peter Gelb to continue negotiating in good faith and lift his threat of lockout, which Gelb has extended to 72-hours past the contract deadline expiring at midnight last night.

Statement from Tino Gagliardi, president of the Met Orchestra' union, Local 802, AFM:

Just in from the Union: Met Musicians: Met Opera GM Peter Gelb Should Back Off Devastating Lockout Threats as Part of Federal Mediation Offer

The New York Times reports that the Metropolitan Opera's general manger Peter Gelb will now take over labor negotiations with the organization's 16 unions. Four years ago, Gelb had assigned the task to Joseph Volpe in an unanticipated move. Contracts are up at the end of July, and now Gelb will lead the process of reaching new agreements.

Seventy years ago, on February 21st, 1944, New York City Opera showcased Giacomo Puccini's Tosca at the historic City Center. The beloved company went on to launch the careers of many of the opera world's most accomplished singers, including Beverly Sills, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Maralin Niska, Shirley Verrett, Tatiana Troyanos, Jerry Hadley, Catherine Malfitano and Samuel Ramey, to name just a few. New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia called it the "People's Opera" in recognition of the company's mission to make opera accessible to a wide audience at a reasonable cost.

Inside Broadway's Executive Director Michael Presser has announced that they have elected several new members to its Board of Directors as of January 1, 2014: President of LOCAL 802 AFM Tino Gagliardi; Managing Director for JP Morgan Private Bank-Global Investment Opportunities Group Adam Gross; Tony Award-winning Producer Jamie deRoy; John M. Diaz, Sr., Vice President, Local One, IATSE; Martin J. McLaughlin, Principle at the firm Connelly, McLaughlin & Woloz (McLaughlin also served as press secretary to Manhattan Borough President Andrew Stein and Mayor Ed Koch); and Joseph Cozza, Catering Sales Leader, Marriott, Inc.

As the political races throughout New York City reach their peak, candidates, thought leaders, businesses, organizations, and prominent New Yorkers are showing their support for the One Percent for Culture campaign that seeks to increase funding to the city's 1,300-plus non-profit cultural organizations.

As a result of negotiations facilitated by a federal mediator, the New York Philharmonic and its management have agreed on a new two-year contract.

As a result of negotiations facilitated by a federal mediator, the New York Philharmonic and its management have agreed on a new two-year contract.

After months of tense negotiations resulting in a lockout of musicians by management, the full New York City Opera orchestra voted today to approve a three-year contract. This approval allows the 2012 season of the venerated 68-year-old company to proceed.

Local 802 Executive Board members voted unanimously on October 4th to support and participate in the Occupy Wall Street Community-Labor March on Wednesday October 5th. The vote came in the wake of mounting demonstrations taking place nationwide condemning business practices on Wall Street that adversely affect working families.