Speaking on Thursday, Governor Mark Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak demanded the two sides in the almost year-long Minnesota Orchestra lockout set aside their personal differences and get back to the negotiating table.
Rybak says the legacy and future of the orchestra is at stake. "I would add that I would hope the reporters in this community do what many more people in this community are increasingly doing, is to say 'I don't want to hear your spin. I don't want to hear your excuses'," Rybak said. "The only thing I want to understand is when are you getting to the bargaining table?"
Dayton said he doesn't want to take sides, but it's time for the sides to meet and keep meeting.
"This about the outcome," Dayton said. "This is about the result. One meeting is the first step. Another meeting. Another meeting. Whatever it takes for as long as it takes. But it's got to be continuous and it has to be is with a sense of time urgency and it has to produce that result of bringing the orchestra back."
Dayton says he has spoken to mediator George Mitchell six times in the last two weeks, but declined to characterize the discussions, saying he doesn't want to hurt the process. Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä has said he needs to be rehearsing with musicians by the week of Sept. 30 to prepare for Carnegie Hall Concerts, and that he will resign if those concerts are cancelled.
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