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SPCO talks end for the day - sides will meet again Friday

Posted at 2:53 PM on February 27, 2013 by Euan Kerr (0 Comments)
Filed under: Music, People

Updated with management statement at 5.25

SPCO logo.jpg Representatives of management and locked out musicians of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra have apparently ended contract talks for the day, and the two sides will meet again Friday.

Musicians negotiator Carole Mason Smith declined to reveal details of the talks but said the sides are exchanging information and still have a lot of things to discuss. She again stressed the musicians remain focused on trying to find a deal.

In late afternoon Interim SPCO President Dobson also issued a short statement: "This morning we continued negotiations with the Musician Negotiating Committee. At this time there is no news to report, but we have agreed to continue the discussion on Friday morning."

Friday's meeting will be the third in five days, a burst of negotiation not seen since the beginning of the lockout in mid-October. Outstanding issues in the talks appear to be over pay, how to reduce the size of the SPCO from 34 to 28 musicians, and the electronic media agreement, which governs the use of SPCO performances on-line.