Symphony faces
pay or staff cutsManagement is faced with a
$1 million debt and seeks
union help to stem the red ink
Honolulu Symphony Orchestra musicians may vote as early as tonight on whether to accept pay cuts of up to 20 percent or lose six of its 63 members.
Symphony management, strapped with $1 million in debt, met with representatives of the Musicians' Association of Hawaii Local 677 last night to discuss options. The union planned to take proposals to its members after the conclusion of talks, and could then begin a 24-hour wait period before a vote.
Based on the existing five-year contract, musicians' base pay for this year is $30,345 for a 34-week season. The musicians are in the second year of the contract.
"It's especially disheartening since $30,000 is not a high salary for anyone to live on and to raise a family," said Scott Janusch, principal oboist and chairman of the symphony's orchestra committee.
A salary cut will also make it difficult for the symphony to attract musicians from the mainland, he said.
Janusch said the base pay is already low on the national pay scale of musicians, who on average earn $15,000 to $20,000 more a year.
The alternative -- losing six musicians and reducing the orchestra to 57 members -- would also have a significant impact, Janusch said.
"We do need a minimum component in order to have quality symphonic performances," he said.
The orchestra is already small for a mid-size city symphony, which normally has a minimum of 75 players, he said.
Janusch said his fear is that if members don't accept the cuts the symphony will close.
Symphony President Stephen Bloom would not comment on negotiations. He said the contract contains a provision allowing wages to be renegotiated in the second year.
Any changes would not take effect until the 2004-05 season.
A group of supporters, which includes symphony board members, has promised $2 million to the symphony if it creates a viable financial plan, Bloom said.
He said the deficit, which accumulated over several years, has been reduced to $1 million from $1.8 million two years ago.
Janusch said the $1 million deficit was a surprise to many.
He said the musicians have continued to assist a campaign to increase the symphony's $5.5 million endowment fund.
"We would like to be a part of the solution," he said.
Symphony members have proposed several ideas for increasing financial support and feel "bold entrepreneurial steps toward increasing the visibility and support of the orchestra" need to be taken, Janusch said.
Gayann Lambert, finance and administration director of the Hawaii Opera Theatre, said arts organizations everywhere are facing financial difficulties.
"We're at the mercy of our subscribers, patrons and the community," she said. "All of the nonprofit performing arts are in it together. We feel the pain."
