Members of the Orchestra Committee (Tina Simpson, Dave Shelton chair) met again with Scott King, LexPhil

l Board President, and Mike McNalley, LexPhil Board PresidentElect, on Thursday afternoon. The OC representatives were pleased to hear the current Board President state that [The Employer is] in favor in Peer Review. We want the orchestra members to feel that there is a level of protection against unfair decisions [regarding demotion or dismissal by the Music Director]. This posture by management marks an important shift in tone that we hope will soon lead to agreement between the parties on the issue of Peer Review. Based on these discussions, the Chair of the Orchestra Committee has written a proposal for a new appeals process that includes Peer Review and other procedures ensuring a fair hearing. This proposal is under review by members of the Orchestra Committee and officers of the American Federation of Musicians and will be formally proposed to management on Monday. In addition to Peer Review, Thursdays meeting included a discussion of the musicians dissatisfaction with the loss of full orchestra concerts, pops and run-out concerts and the overall number of services per season. The Orchestra Committee has proposed to management three versions of language calling for a gradual return of services, and we hope to hear a positive response from management. Management has stated that they wish to work exclusively on the issues of Peer Review and a return of lost services before responding to the remainder of the 40+ proposals delivered to them on Saturday, March 29. The Orchestra Committee has agreed to this. As a reminder, nothing is final until the CBA is ratified by the members and signed by the President of the Union Local. In the meantime, any agreed-to language may be withdrawn by either party. As negotiations continue, the OC will update our members as often as possible via our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LexPhilMusicians) our Twitter account (@LexPhiMusicians), and direct emails. If you did not receive our email, please send a message to lexphiloc@gmail.com.