Tentative settlement in Jacksonville

From the NBC affiliate in Jacksonville:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After being locked out for more more than two months, musicians have received a new offer for a five-year contract from the Jacksonville Symphony Association.

The offer came out of the latest round of negotiations between the association and the Jacksonville Symphony Players Association, which began on Tuesday.

The musicians’ union is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon to discuss the new offer.

The musicians were locked out when talks over proposed cuts to the musicians’ pensions and benefits broke down in November, with all concerts in December and January cancelled.. The musicians’ contract had expired in August.

During a recent practice for a concert to benefit their health and welfare fund, the musicians were guardedly optimistic about the coming new round of negotiations.

"We need for the city to understand that we deserve a decent salary and benefits and retirement, and we’ve spent our lives playing music and studying. That’s what we’re asking for — to be treated decently," Wright said.

Representatives for the city told Channel 4 they came close to an agreement right before the holidays and hope to build on that progress to perhaps have the symphony back in concert later this month.

Drew McManus at Adaptistration has the musicians’ press release about the settlement.