The Twin Cities' distinctive status in the world of classical music took a turn towards dubious Sunday. As of 6 p.m., members of both world-class orchestras that call Minnesota home were locked out of their concert halls in contract disputes.

Union players at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra failed to vote on an offer from management, and the board of directors shut the doors and canceled concerts through Nov. 4. In a lockout, players may not report for work and they receive no pay.

Musicians at the Minnesota Orchestra were locked out Oct. 1 after the union unanimously voted to reject what management had characterized as its final offer. So for the first time since the SPCO launched in 1959, neither orchestra will be playing for at least the next two weeks.

"After 10 months of negotiations, the Union and the Society agree that the SPCO faces a significant financial challenge, but the Union continues to reject that a significant reduction in the cost of the contract must be part of the solution," said SPCO President Dobson West in an e-mail statement Sunday night. "As a result, we are not close to an agreement."

Contract disputes at both the Minnesota Orchestra and the SPCO do make the Twin Cities unique in that both major orchestras are locked out. However, both Atlanta and Indianapolis symphony orchestras endured lockouts this fall. In Chicago, a short strike ended when musicians agreed to small raises.

"We're very disappointed and very perplexed that management has decided to take this step," said Carole Mason Smith, head of the musicians' negotiating committee, on Sunday night. "We made offers to continue to talk and play that were rejected and we're sorry the community has to suffer like this."

Back and forth last week

There is TV airtime being used to say that my appearance in a Joe Miklosi TV advertisement includes a misleading statement.  Here's the news program saying that my words are misleading:  http://www.9news.com/news/article/291808/669/TRUTH-TEST-Miklosi-ad-attacks-Coffman-Medicare-vote
 
Here's the advertisement: 
 

Joe Miklosi TV Ad: "Think"

I did not mislead.  I did not lie.  Please read the NY Daily News article, which - by the way - gives credit to NBC affiliate 9NEWS for having first reported on the Coffman speech.  Note also, that Coffman is quoted as having apologized for saying that Obama is not an American. 
 
Read the entire article, all the way down,,,,,,,,,, include where there is a report that Coffman apologized for his remark. 
 
Ed Knox 
720-323-1559   

Ed Knox is a DMA member and President of IBEW Local 68  

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