Negotiations

Drew has reminded me about some helpful activities that can occur in the post-negotiation period. Ideally, negotiations are a time of expanded communication, transparency, a spirited exchange of ideas as they legislate the ability to compromise.

In conversations with Drew during last year’s difficulties at the Utah Symphony & Opera, he suggested that it would be beneficial if we sought a method to perpetuate the “open” atmosphere in the aftermath of the negotiations. In response to his sage guidance, the Musicians formed a Watchdog Committee whose duty was to be vigilant observers of the organization’s implementation of Thomas Morris’ recovery plan.

This is the musicians’ parallax to the Oversight Committee created by the Plan. The Watchdog Committee is comprised of all the musicians who sit on Board/Management committees. This facilitates continued communication within the entire committee structure. Periodically, the Watchdog Committee addresses any concerns it has to the Oversight Committee (and vice versa, of course.)

Our Watchdog Committee is also available to our musicians. The Arts, after all, are a form of communication, and just about everything in the orchestra workplace involves communication at some level. The word has become a mantra in our field. Most assuredly, without it the ethos of the organization becomes compromised and deteriorates. Perhaps it is our Vitamin C.

Final Thoughts
It has been a great pleasure to have been involved as a contributor during the seminal weeks of polyphonic.org. We certainly have had spirited exchanges in this discussion group.

Much may be said for the art of communication, whether at the most elemental or sophisticated levels, because without it, there cannot be progress of any kind. While there were some divergent approaches and opinions during this forum, the good news is that collective bargaining provides a wide pallette of communication for organizational growth.

It has been my pleasure to participate–Erich Graf, April 21, 2006