(For Immediate Release, New York, NY)—Carnegie Hall today announced that its Opening Night performance—scheduled for tonight—Wednesday, October 2—has
been cancelled due to a strike by Carnegie Hall’s stagehands,
represented by IATSE/Local One (International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees). The season-opening concert by The Philadelphia
Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and
featuring violinist Joshua Bell and vocalist/double bassist Esperanza
Spalding, was scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. in Stern
Auditorium/Perelman Stage. All future performances remain on Carnegie
Hall’s schedule, and daily updates will be issued pending resolution of
the strike.
In opting to strike, the stagehands have rejected a proposed
new agreement that includes annual wage and benefit increases and
continued jurisdiction throughout Carnegie Hall’s concert venues. It
also provides new additional work opportunities in the renovated upper
floors of the building. The strike is an attempt to force Carnegie Hall
to agree to the union’s demand for jurisdiction over the whole of
Carnegie Hall’s newly-created Education Wing in ways that would
compromise Carnegie Hall's education mission. These new spaces,
dedicated to the Hall's expanding music education and community
programming, are scheduled to open in fall 2014.
Acceptance of the union’s demands would not only restrict
education work within the new spaces, it would divert significant funds
away from the Hall’s music education programs and into stagehand fees.
Local One also demands that Carnegie Hall displace other union employees
currently performing maintenance work in the new Education Wing,
insisting that stagehands perform this work which will involve a
substantially higher cost.
“Carnegie Hall sincerely regrets any inconvenience this strike will
cause our artists, concertgoers, and everyone with whom we work,” said
Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. “We
are disappointed that, despite the fact that the stagehands have one of
the most lucrative contracts in the industry, they are now seeking to
expand their jurisdiction beyond the concert hall and into the new
Education Wing in ways that would compromise Carnegie Hall's education
mission. There is no precedent for this anywhere in New York City. In
addition, the activities in the education spaces, including education
and community programs offered to the public for free or low cost, have
nothing to do with the performance-related work they do in the concert
halls. We remain strongly committed to reaching a fair agreement that
continues to recognize the value they bring to Carnegie Hall and that
also enables us to effectively and sustainably deliver on our education
and community mission.”
Carnegie Hall’s position is based on the fact that IATSE/Local One—a
theatrical union whose fundamental jurisdiction is tied to performance
spaces—has no collective bargaining agreements governing education
spaces in any New York-area music conservatories, universities with
music education programs, or other local facilities supporting education
work. In addition, Carnegie Hall’s previous agreements with its
stagehands have never included jurisdiction within the spaces on the
building’s upper floors, the location of the new Education Wing.
Working toward an equitable solution, Carnegie Hall has offered to
extend the union’s jurisdiction into the Education Wing in a way that
would preserve the operational flexibility needed to create a more
informal, hands-on learning environment for activities serving students,
young artists, and teachers, while also ensuring a sustainable and
meaningful financial approach required to effectively manage these new
spaces.
Carnegie Hall has been in negotiations for a new collective bargaining
agreement with its stagehands since mid-2012. The stagehands’ most
recent agreement expired on August 31, 2012. While negotiations were
ongoing, both the stagehands and Carnegie Hall had agreed to work under
the terms of their previous agreement. In order to avoid any disruption
to concertgoers and the public, Carnegie Hall urged the stagehands to
extend their current collective bargaining agreement and not strike
while discussions continue. In choosing to strike, IATSE/Local One has
rejected this proposal.
Please note the following information for ticketholders:
Carnegie Hall’s Opening Night performance by The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and featuring violinist Joshua Bell and vocalist/double bassist Esperanza Spalding, scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m.,
in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, has been cancelled. This concert
will not be rescheduled. Concertgoers who purchased tickets with a
credit card will receive automatic refunds. Those who purchased tickets
with cash should call CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800.
The scheduled Opening Night Gala dinner, benefiting Carnegie Hall’s
artistic and education programs, will still take place at the Waldorf
Astoria’s Grand Ballroom, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Ticketholders can direct all questions to CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800.
No further cancellations have been announced at this time.
All other performances remain on the Carnegie Hall schedule pending
the resolution of the work stoppage. Ticketholders are encouraged to
check carnegiehall.org for the most up-to-date information.
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