The musicians employed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) were locked out on September 7^th, 2014, and no talks of any kind have been engaged in since.  The U.S.  Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) recently announced that they have been asked by both sides to step in and handle mediation proceedings in an effort to get a contract negotiated that would allow the ASO to resume the 2014 concert season.  The season has been canceled through November 8^th so far.

This is the second time the musicians have been locked out by the ASO since 2012.  The relationship between the ASO and its musicians has degraded to the point where neither side believes any sort of talks or negotiations would be fruitful, thus, the dual request to the FMCS.  The negotiations will be handed by FMCS Acting Director Allison Beck.  Beck’s stated goal is to have a deal in place, in time to allow the ASO to resume the concerts it still has scheduled beginning November 8^th.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed had recently offered to act as a neutral mediator between the two sides.

The ASO lockout is the latest in a lengthy string of symphony lockouts, including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra.  The ASO lockout comes after the musicians had agreed to deep cuts – a 15% salary cut across the board and an orchestra reduction from 95 musicians to 88.  At the time, the ASO promised that no lockout would recur if these concessions were made.