Warring symphony factions more in tune

The Musicians Union of Las Vegas and the Nevada Symphony Orchestra expressed harmony at the conclusion of a federal mediation session Thursday morning.

"The good faith at the meeting was overwhelming," said Dan Trinter, president /business agent for the union.

During an interview the day before federal mediator David Martinez brought the two feuding factions of the 18-year-old orchestra to the negotiating table, Trinter said if the problems could not be worked out it could sound the death knell for one of the cornerstones of culture in Las Vegas.

"It was an excellent meeting," said Janis Tanno, NSO president. "We believe that we are going to go forward with a partnership in the future. We have to put (disputes) behind us and have made a commitment to move forward."

Musicians and management were at odds over a number of issues.

Management said though it agrees that a collective bargaining agreement is needed, it doesn't want one that puts it at an unfair advantage.

Disagreements resulted in the orchestra's management cancelling the popular summer Picnic Pops series.

But Thursday's agreement to negotiate a contract, which should be accomplished by the end of summer, means fall and winter concerts will be saved.

Trinter said job security for the part-time orchestra members, all of whom are contract players rather than employees of the organization, is the overriding issue.

"There are still some issues to be worked out," Trinter said during a joint press conference with Tanno, "but there are no heavy snags."

Both agreed a contract will stabilize the orchestra.

"Hopefully it will create an opportunity for a lot of growth to occur," Tanno said.

"It will catapult us far ahead from where we have been for the past 15 years," Trinter said.

"It's a win-win situation," Tanno said.

Both agreed the past should be forgotten and that terms of the contract should not be discussed until an agreement is signed.

"The commitment now is to focus on solving the problems," Trinter said. "There is no room for animosity."

They said the union, the musicians and the orchestra's board of directors all want the symphony to survive and thrive.

"It's time to let by-gones be by-gones and build for the future, that's where we are today," Tanno said.

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