Union Calls NY City Opera Strike ‘Likely’ Given Demands

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a9n2DyWPPiXE&refer=muse

By Philip Boroff

April 29 (Bloomberg) -- A strike may cripple the New York City Opera later this year if its new general manager and artistic director, George Steel, seeks extensive concessions, said the union representing opera singers, stage directors and other production staffers.

The American Guild of Musical Artists said in a memo to members that “given the changes that George Steel wants to make in our contract, members are advised that the possibility of a strike against New York City Opera is likely.”

Steel seeks to eliminate a guarantee of 26 weeks of work for the chorus, the memo said, plus pay singers only when they are working, reduce medical coverage and eliminate production staff work guarantees. On average, the 32 chorus members earn about $36,000 a year.

“Under Steel’s proposal, working at City Opera wouldn’t even be a full-time job,” Alan Gordon, the executive director of the Guild, said in an interview.

Finding other full-time work would be impossible because of the singers’ obligation to be sporadically available for City Opera, he said. They supplement their income by teaching voice, doing carpentry and other part-time jobs. City Opera employs 52 AGMA members in all.

In January, Steel left the Dallas Opera after just a few months for City Opera, whose recent history has been troubled. During the 2008-2009 season, the company did not perform while the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center was being renovated. The board chose not to relocate to another venue. With just six performances scheduled around New York, its income from ticket sales dropped to around $320,000, down from $12 million the year before.

FULL story at link.

[imdjh]

1. It's a business with a dying client base.

The only thing that keeps golf alive is some hormone in heterosexual men that kicks in when they stop smoking pot.

[Golden Raisin]

2. NYCO is in dire straits,

has a lackluster Board, and basically is on life support. This or any other strike will be devestating. New York City's economy has never really recovered from 9/11 and the current, ongoing financial crisis has made matters infinitely worse, particularly for cultural/arts organizations. NYCO may not be long for this world. And they no longer have a powerhouse fundraiser like Sills to prop them up.