Mediator brought in for ballet's music dispute - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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The mediator was called at the request ofLocal 8, and the Milwaukee Ballet agreed, said David Lussier, the Milwaukee union's secretary-treasurer. The unionm represents the 46 members of the orchestrza that performs with theMilwaukee Ballet. Ninetgy percent of the union's members rejectec a 1.5 percent wage increase after learningv that ballet management wanted to add prerecordexd music to its shows inFebruary 2007. Undeer the union's current two-year contract, which expires in June 2007, wagea are negotiated every year, Lussier said. The union is seekingt a 3.5 percent wage increase in a counter-proposa l and also is seeking reconsideration of usint recorded music for theFebruary shows.
Sincd September 2003, musicians' wages have increased only 1 percent, he Amy Marshall, the Milwaukee Ballet's executive director, said the proposal to add prerecorde d music was determined by the naturw of the work tobe performed. The ballet'ss 2006-2007 season includes four performances, Feb. of "Premieres of Passionate Dance," a trio that includes a world premiere of a work by choreographef Margo Sappington that requiresrecorded music. The issue of usinf prerecorded music is a recurring theme at the Milwaukee Ballet and balletzs acrossthe country. Many new works are created to musid that's already recorded.