BALTIMORE — Musicians with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will not be going to work.
They are being locked out after management and the musicians failed to come to a salary agreement.
The financial problems facing the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have taken yet another turn. Now, musicians are being told they are being locked out of the Meyerhoff starting today.
The BSO Board of Directors sent out a statement Sunday night saying they enacted the lockout after management and the musicians did not come to a collective bargaining agreement.
The BSO said it has been struggling financially for years and steps to try to increase revenue have not worked.
A few weeks ago, the organization announced it would be canceling its summer performances to save money.
Another issue facing the BSO is its state funding is up in the air.
Last week Governor Larry Hogan talked about his concerns for releasing $3.2 million that was approved by the General Assembly.
“We continue to pour millions and millions of dollars into the BSO, but they have real serious issues and problems with management, with losing support of their donor base.” said Hogan.
Some of the musicians went down to Annapolis to urge the governor to change his mind.
During a news conference last week, one of the co-chairs of the BSO players committee talked about the need for the state funding to be released.
Brian Prechtl, Co-Chair of BSO Players Committee said, it's a difficult moment, and we think this amount of money would really help bridge the gap right now and get some substantive and progressive talks going between management and the musicians
Baltimore County is planning to have the BSO musicians perform at its Fourth of July event at Oregon Ridge Park.
According to the BSO, it's unclear when both sides will return to the bargaining table to negotiate salaries for the musicians and allow them to return to work.
