what's new?

the Association

the musicians

events

they have written...

FAQ

contact

August 20, 2005 Mr Lucien Bouchard Chairman, Board of Directors Ms Madeleine Careau General Manager Montreal Symphony Orchestra 260 de Maisonneuve Blvd West, 2nd floor Montreal, Quebec H2X 1Y9 Dear Mr Bouchard and Ms Careau, Thank you for your letter of August 4, received by me on August 12. I was pleased to receive the letter for two reasons. First, because it provided me with this opportunity of replying to you and, secondly, because it confirmed my suspicion that you are fully prepared to be as disingenuous with the Orchestra's subscribers as you are in your general statements to the media. You say "We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the unwavering support you have shown us." Let me be absolutely clear: I most emphatically do not support you or your policies, and certainly not your tactics. I have had some experience of collective agreement negotiations, and from both sides, union and management. As a consequence, I am very much aware of the public relations game of jockeying for position with manipulative language. Up to a point this is expected (and respected) by both sides. However, when such rhetoric crosses the line and becomes simply unconscionable, then we have reached the stage of 'bad faith' bargaining in which neither side wins, and where the greatest losers are often the clients of the institution. It is clear that this is the situation you have created for those of us who are deprived, through your actions, of our Orchestra. You will note, I hope, that I say our Orchestra, for it is ours, not yours. The task of management (including the Board) is to facilitate the work of the musicians. It is the musicians who are the Orchestra. Management works for the Orchestra, not the other way around, a point that appears to have been lost sight of in the MSO's front office. As an academic I find especially appalling your characterization of the musicians' 'workweek' and salary levels. I am a faculty member at one of Montreal's universities. This year I am teaching four undergraduate courses. I am also teaching four graduate seminars and as many tutorials and reading courses for senior undergraduates. This year I have supervised one doctoral and one master's student through their degree programs, and will do so for two others before the year is ended, as well as supervising several undergraduate Honours theses. I serve as Honours Advisor for my program, and on numerous university committees. I serve on the Editorial Board of Canada's leading academic journal in my field, and as consultant for several other journals and funding agencies, as well as external examiner for master's and doctoral theses for other universities both within and outside the Montreal community. And in addition to this teaching and administrative work, I have this year produced a book, several articles in leading academic journals, several papers for international conferences, and a lengthy article for the major encyclopedia in my field. I have also organized a panel of experts in my field and related areas for a prestigious international conference to take place in Montreal next January. I typically spend well in excess of fifty hours a week on my academic work year-round. You would point to the only contractually-specified component of this work, the hours spent in the undergraduate classroom, and claim that I have a four-hour workweek for thirty weeks 'effectively worked'. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to reconsider your evident belief that the Orchestra's subscribers and indeed the general public are sufficiently obtuse and gullible as to be swayed by your misleading rhetoric and persuaded by your outrageous claims. We are not persuaded. We know what the musicians' salary levels are and what they should be. We know that your demands are unreasonable and that they would compromise the integrity of the music. We know that you are trying to make the musicians compensate for your failings. We know that the Orchestra is threatened not by the musicians but by gross mismanagement on your part. We know that the Orchestra's reputation-and perhaps its very survival-is at risk because of you. Please, do your job. Facilitate the work of the musicians. Pay them a decent salary, provide them with supportive working conditions, and treat them with the respect they deserve. They are doing their job at the highest professional level; we (their audience) have no complaints about them. If you cannot do your job, then have the grace at least to get out of their way. And above all, GIVE US BACK OUR ORCHESTRA. Yours sincerely, Annette Teffeteller MSO Subscriber cc: Members, MSO Board of Directors