‘Save Our SPCO’ group proposes bridging gap in contract dispute

A group formed to bridge the gap between musicians and management in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra negotiations today proposed raising three-quarters of a million dollars a year to maintain the SPCO at 34 players.

Management wants to reduce the number to 28 for financial reasons, But Mariellen Jacobson of the group Save Our SPCO says a survey of its 2500 members finds they would be prepared to donate money to keep the full orchestral complement.

"We think it is really do-able on a grassroots level to go out and find $750,000 to help the Society to get the funds to continue to employ a full 34 person orchestra at a reasonable salary without employing draconian cuts in the salaries of the musicians."

Jacobson says for the proposal to work the four month long musicians lockout needs to end.

A representative of SPCO management described a meeting with the group as productive, and management will consider the specifics of the proposal.

Editor's note: this update reported by Euan Kerr

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