Fischer Meets With Both Sides of Orchestra Dispute

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has now met with both sides in the Louisville Orchestra labor dispute.The management and musicians have been in talks over a contract for the next season for more than a year. In that time, the orchestra has entered and emerged from bankruptcy and the previous season's contract has expired."I think it's important that we have an orchestra in this city and if I can help solve a problem of this magnitude, I think it's part of my role," says Fischer.Both sides are in mediation with the Louisville Labor Management Committee, but Fischer joined the talks this week, meeting with management yesterday and musicians today."Our goal this week was to listen to both sides and reflect on that tonight and over the weekend and we'll probably go back to them through the mediator Henri Mangeot and ask them for some additional information and see if we can provide a few suggestions," he says.The management is seeking to sign the musicians to tiered contracts, with some players being paid for as few as ten weeks. The musicians have offered to shorten the season and cut 11 full-time players, but the management says it can't afford that. Fischer says it's too early for him to judge either side's proposal.Orchestra concerts for September and October have been canceled.