Woodruff board chief Hertz willing to ‘break the backs of employees’ October 3, 2014
by Howard Pousner
The heated words between leaders of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Players’ Association and ASO and Woodruff Arts Center management took a harsh turn on Friday, with the musicians’ union releasing a statement sharply critical of Woodruff Arts Center Governing Board Chairman Douglas Hertz.
The statement, included in its entirety below, charges that Hertz is more interested in cutting full-time ASO musician positions than he is “in securing financial stability or in preserving the high artistic standards of the institution he has a duty as a steward to serve and protect.”
The Woodruff responded shortly with a statement by its president and CEO, Virginia Hepner. “We are saddened that they are attempting to disparage the reputation of Doug Hertz, our chairman,” she said in the statement, also included in its entirety below. “He is widely recognized as one of the most successful and generous leaders in Atlanta and we feel extremely fortunate to have his ongoing support.”
In addition to his Woodruff role, Atlanta native Hertz, president and CEO of United Distributors, a beverage distribution company, is a board leader or member for organizations including Camp Twin Lakes, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Westminster Schools.
The volley of statements could be the final dissonant notes between the two sides for a while.
The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service announced later Friday afternoon that it would provide mediation services in the contract dispute and musician lockout that has spanned four weeks.
Typically, mediators move quickly to make both sides save their words for the negotiating table and to stop staking positions in the press and on social media.
by Howard Pousner
The heated words between leaders of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Players’ Association and ASO and Woodruff Arts Center management took a harsh turn on Friday, with the musicians’ union releasing a statement sharply critical of Woodruff Arts Center Governing Board Chairman Douglas Hertz.
The statement, included in its entirety below, charges that Hertz is more interested in cutting full-time ASO musician positions than he is “in securing financial stability or in preserving the high artistic standards of the institution he has a duty as a steward to serve and protect.”
The Woodruff responded shortly with a statement by its president and CEO, Virginia Hepner. “We are saddened that they are attempting to disparage the reputation of Doug Hertz, our chairman,” she said in the statement, also included in its entirety below. “He is widely recognized as one of the most successful and generous leaders in Atlanta and we feel extremely fortunate to have his ongoing support.”
In addition to his Woodruff role, Atlanta native Hertz, president and CEO of United Distributors, a beverage distribution company, is a board leader or member for organizations including Camp Twin Lakes, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Westminster Schools.
The volley of statements could be the final dissonant notes between the two sides for a while.
The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service announced later Friday afternoon that it would provide mediation services in the contract dispute and musician lockout that has spanned four weeks.
Typically, mediators move quickly to make both sides save their words for the negotiating table and to stop staking positions in the press and on social media.