The door to my musical home for the last 45 + years has been slammed in my face and I wasn't even expecting it, nor did I have all the necessary documentation to prevent it from happening .
Susan Whipple Rogers . . . . . . . . . SSO 2nd Horn . . . . . Collateral Damage . . . . . . . . . . . .
So, here's a story for you
Remember when orchestra musicians received an update of "IMPORTANT CHANGES" and REVISIONS in a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) before voting on a new Contract Agreement? Especially, language in articles that have not seen notable revision in years? Not just salaries and services, but ALL pertinent information that might affect the way the orchestra members vote?
Shouldn't providing this information in a timely manner be a requirement, at least a courtesy? But what if this same information is NEVER PROVIDED during the length of that current collective bargaining agreement? And what if that same language revision is suspect of inattentiveness, carelessness or lack of proofing? What if same language suddenly allows others to control your life and tenure in the orchestra without your knowledge because you've never seen the language and you are not privy to these revisions? Two years after the signing of "A" contract document by both parties and you've never seen this revised language, nor has it been provided to rank and file members of the orchestra. Suddenly within a period of two days, you are without your job and your income.
Who is responsible for this "mistake" and the collateral damage fall out? And make no mistake, the collateral damage has fallen on only one member of the orchestra - me! Why? NO OTHER ORCHESTRA MEMBERS were effected because NO OTHER ORCHESTRA MEMBERS failed to receive an individual contract offer on May 15 after having received the legal INTENT LETTER for the coming season on March 15 during negotiations . Thank about it. An INTENT LETTER is issued "in good faith" on March 15 and rescinded on May 15, two months later. Again, how does that situation happen? How was it "allowed" to happen and who is ultimately at fault?
What would you do if this situation happened to you? What avenues are open within the orchestra family and outside the family?
Shouldn't providing this information in a timely manner be a requirement, at least a courtesy? But what if this same information is NEVER PROVIDED during the length of that current collective bargaining agreement? And what if that same language revision is suspect of inattentiveness, carelessness or lack of proofing? What if same language suddenly allows others to control your life and tenure in the orchestra without your knowledge because you've never seen the language and you are not privy to these revisions? Two years after the signing of "A" contract document by both parties and you've never seen this revised language, nor has it been provided to rank and file members of the orchestra. Suddenly within a period of two days, you are without your job and your income.
Who is responsible for this "mistake" and the collateral damage fall out? And make no mistake, the collateral damage has fallen on only one member of the orchestra - me! Why? NO OTHER ORCHESTRA MEMBERS were effected because NO OTHER ORCHESTRA MEMBERS failed to receive an individual contract offer on May 15 after having received the legal INTENT LETTER for the coming season on March 15 during negotiations . Thank about it. An INTENT LETTER is issued "in good faith" on March 15 and rescinded on May 15, two months later. Again, how does that situation happen? How was it "allowed" to happen and who is ultimately at fault?
What would you do if this situation happened to you? What avenues are open within the orchestra family and outside the family?
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