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Atlanta Symphony Orchestra CEO Hopeful On Reaching Agreement with Musicians

September 7th, 2012

Members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Players Association have no contract, no paycheck or health insurance.

The orchestra and the governing board of the Woodruff Arts Center are at a stalemate regarding a new contract.

But as WABE’s Rose Scott reports, the president and CEO of the ASO says he’s optimistic an agreement will be reached.

Stanley Romanstein says he’s encouraged that the work stoppage will soon be over.

“We’re scheduled to begin our season on October the 4th and we’re making plans for that.

We’ve sent out invitations, we’re getting things ready and we remain hopeful that we’ll be on stage on October 4^thmaking music for Atlanta.”

But in order for that to happen, the two sides need to get back to the negotiating table.

Both have accused the other of distorting the truth about ASO financials.

According to the ASO chief, there’s nothing misleading about the dire fiscal state of the orchestra and “the reality is we have a 5-million dollar annual structural deficit,” says Romanstein.

Musicians offered 2-million dollars in concessions this year and another 2 million next year.

Romanstein says that’s generous but not enough.

“A two million dollar gesture doesn’t solve a 5-million dollar problem. So, what we’ve said to them is while we’re grateful what you’ve done, we’re still not there. We still have to look at some more solutions. We have to look at other options and that’s why we’ve invited them back to the table”

Meanwhile, public perception of the standoff continues to grow.

There once was an agreement for neither side to speak with the media but that’s no longer the case.

In press releases the musician’s union has accused Romanstein of being condescending towards the players.

Romanstein tells WABE he doesn’t personalize the attacks.

“Well, I think all of us are frustrated by the economic circumstances with which we’re having to deal and I think we express our frustrations in different ways.”

When asked if the current contract offer could be changed, Romanstein said there’s always room to negotiate.

“We want to be as flexible as we can in working with the union in order to find an agreeable solution and one that gets us back to making music for the people of Atlanta.”