Pittsburgh Musicians Fight Replacement with Canned Music
Musicians in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Orchestra have traded their evening gowns, tuxedos, and instruments for lime green t-shirts and picket signs bearing the words “Keep It Live.”
The musicians are fighting for their jobs against the ultimate enemy of the live performing musician—a tape recorder. On August 1 the Pittsburgh Ballet (PBT) announced that its entire 2005-06 season would be performed with pre-recorded music, locking out the musicians. “It’s the ultimate outsourcing of jobs,” remarked Allegheny County Labor Council President Jack Shea.
Nathan Kahn, negotiator for the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), said the Ballet’s move would have “serious consequences…for working musicians everywhere, as this is the first time in my memory that a major ballet company has taken the step to do an entire season with pre-recorded music. We must resist this with any and all resources we have.”
‘JUKE BOX’ BALLET
The Pittsburgh Musicians’ Union (AFM Local 60-471) has filed an unfair labor practice charge, citing management’s failure to bargain over the workplace changes and to provide necessary financial data. Management has been barraged with negative press and cancellations of subscriptions to performances.
The relationship between musicians and management has been stormy all year. By reaching out to the public, the musicians were able to fend off an attempted 50 percent wage cut in March.
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The Ballet, represented by Littler Mendelson (one of the largest union-busting law firms in the country), cites financial duress, but has failed to provide evidence. As of April 30 the Ballet showed a $109,000 deficit on a budget that exceeds $6 million. Musicians’ payroll constitutes a mere six percent of the Ballet’s annual expenses.
The orchestra has given many concessions over the life of the last contract. George Clewer, president of Local 60-471, pointed out, “The PBT Orchestra has repeatedly made offers to help the PBT with fundraising, but these offers have fallen on deaf ears…I can’t imagine ‘juke-box’ ballet catching on anytime soon in Pittsburgh.”
In a show of solidarity, around 90 musicians, dancers, and other supporters from the Pittsburgh labor scene were joined by colleagues from across the country on August 18 to rally support from audience members at a PBT performance.
ANGRY AUDIENCE
Audience members who discover that they have paid up to $78 for a performance without live music feel cheated by the bait-and-switch. Former patron Marjorie Liese complained, “Taped music will kill the Ballet. We aren’t coming to listen to canned music. People with the money will go to Boston or New York for live music and we’ll be stuck with nothing.”
Gary Rugel won’t return until the live orchestra is back in the pit. “A lot of times I just close my eyes; I just want to hear that music,” says Rugel. “I go there for specific performances of ballet music I don’t get to hear at regular symphony concerts. The PBT has already lost my ticket.”
The next goal is to flood the streets in front of the Benedum Center Theater with supporters October 6-9, at the season’s opening performances. Former patron Marie Buck summed up the sentiments of the public when she implored, “We want you guys back. We want the band.”
