Musicians' Union Lets Contract Offer Expire

Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra have rejected the third contract proposal issued by the Orchestra Board of Directors in the organization's ongoing labor dispute. The revised proposal, which was offered to musicians on September 14, was released through a confidential mediation process and its details have not been made public. The offer expired at 5 p.m. on September 23 without response from the Union-thereby signaling rejection. The musicians offered no counterproposal.

"The board is diligently pursuing creative compromises that will at least partially address our financial challenges but to date we've received nothing but rejection in return," said Minnesota Orchestra Board Negotiating Committee Chair Richard Davis. "Despite this current setback, the board remains optimistic, and we expect to continue dialogue and to use every day in the week ahead to seek a settlement. We hope the musicians will elect to partner with us in this process in order to find a solution." The organization is working toward a September 30 deadline, the date that Music Director Osmo Vänskä has said he needs the musicians rehearsing in order to prepare appropriately for two November Carnegie Hall concerts.