SPCO president open to more talks

The interim president of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra says he's ready to keep talking to locked-out musicians, despite the players decision to lift a media blackout on the talks.

Dobson West said he believes the off-the-record talks were useful. He also disputed the musicians claim that management is being inflexible in the talks.

He said he has made it clear from the start that the orchestra needs to cut $1.4 million a year from the cost of the musicians contract.

"But within that parameter we are open to a wide variety of ways of achieving that result and I think the way that we have negotiated has demonstrated that we are open to finding different ways of achieving those savings," West said.

The musicians say the dispute is not just about money: They are concerned about issues of artistic control in the contract.

The two sides are now looking for dates for future meetings.

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