Fort Wayne Philharmonic silent due to contract negotiations

Fort Wayne Philharmonic silent due to contract negotiations

Tonight..contract negotiations between musicians and the fort wayne philharmonic orchestra continue to stall.the workers are furloughed through the end of the year..and could be out of work longer.fox 55's chris mullooly reports how covid 19 impacted negotiations..and why musicians feel they aren't getting their fair share.

The fort wayne philharmonic office on friday afternoon doesn't show much life in itas winter approaches... its hard to get a signal on future plans for musicians in the orchestra...because the last note played..

Was over eight months ago.philharmonic expressed music in spring and we will continue to negotiate campbell macdonald is principal clarinet for the philharmonic..

And has been there since 2004.he loves playing... and playing for the crowds at venues in the city and around the region....but in march covid 19 put a halt to that.expecting to hava meeting about performing and options to safely present music in fw and that meetnig we were told we'd be furloughed through jan.the group was unexpectedly furoughled in the summer...but negotiations continued.close to agreement on a 'side letter'.intended to let the philharmonic play under new contract negotiations... until the pandemic was over...but macdonald says management didn't agreemanagement intended to have the side letter agreement supercede the cba negotiations that had been insitututed for decades macdonald says talks have resumed...but agreement seems unlikelyputting these musicians in tough spots.a lot of us are doubling our efforts in teaching privately, many are taking extra jobs, embarked on new careers the fort wayne philharmonic tells us the offers were 'unfortunately' turned down by the musicians..and today says they remain committed to reaching