A history of our negotiations with PBT:

November 23, 2005

November 30, 2005

December 3 ,2005

December 28, 2005

On May 11, 2005, musicians and management met to negotiate a new contract. Understanding that PBT has struggled with financial issues over the life of the previous contract, musicians proposed

* A pay freeze for the first year of a new 3-year contract

* Management’s contractual promise to use the PBT orchestra when orchestral accompaniment was used

* Adherence to the terms of the contract during the life of the contract

In response, management proposed deeper pay cuts and language that would eliminate the PBT orchestra altogether:

* “PBT retains the exclusive right to determine whether and if it will utilize the services of any musicians, and if so, what musicians it will utilize for any of its performances at the Benedum”

Upon receiving this proposal, the musicians requested relevant financial documents from management to further clarify the nature of PBT’s financial situation. Two months later, in July, management gave the musicians incomplete financial information. The musicians requested the missing documents. We were awaiting these documents when PBT management went to the press on August 1 to announce the 2005-06 season would be performed without live music. Management and musicians met only one time in contract negotiations, and we were expecting to continue to negotiate in good faith with management when they announced they would not be using the orchestra for the entire season.

This move constitutes a “lock-out” of the musicians by the PBT.  The musicians have filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the management of PBT, citing:

*  Failure of PBT to negotiate in good faith with the musicians prior to the decision to eliminate the orchestra for the season

*  Failure to provide relevant and necessary financial documents as requested during the course of the negotiations