To whom it may concern:

I am writing today on behalf of myself and some of the musicians aboard the Tahitian Princess in response to the recent decision regarding fire watching.  We have some grievances we would like to make known to the powers that be in Princess Cruises.

I'd like to begin by pointing out that we do understand that right now there is a shortage of manpower.  The fire on the Star was tragic, and I understand that you need to protect the vessels in your fleet.  I am fully aware that you are running a business.  Might I suggest, therefore, that it was perhaps a bad business decision to simply force these extra duties upon the musicians.  Here are our reasons:

First, when we agreed to do this job, these extra duties weren't what we signed up for.  While I am fully aware that the contracts we signed specify x amount of hours and safety duty, we are veteran musicians.  We have worked for ships in the past, and we know what our duties are going to be when we sign up.  Personally, I play two shows a night.  I play two dance sets as appropriate.  I may play a rehearsal.  I accept that I have boat drill and certain duties in a crisis, but I get paid x amount of dollars because I am a professional and I am highly trained in my craft.  The fact that I and the others signed a more demanding contract is perhaps unfortunate, but it has always been understood what our duties are.  Had I been told up front when I signed up that I would have to wake up at 8 am to stand in the sun for two hours, no book, no headphones, no chair, I would have flatly said "no".  There are other jobs for someone trained as I am.

Second, Princess has a reputation for hiring quality musicians.  It has been a privilege to play with some of the people I have met on this ship, and I believe they feel the same way about me.  If Princess becomes known as the line that charges their musicians with extra duties, they will quickly lose the prior reputation of quality.  Often times it isn't apparent to the casual listener that they are listening to great musicians. But if you have ever seen a show that has had bad musicians backing it up, then casual or not, you'll know it.  And the impression left will not be positive.

What this comes down to for you, as a business, and for us, as contractors, is money.  You believe that fire watch duties are important to the company to protect your multi million dollar vessels.   So important, in fact, that the musicians have been "offered" $10 an hour for the late shift, and nothing for the morning shift.  Frankly, it doesn't sound to me like you are really taking this fire watch as seriously as you say.  Given that, why should we take it seriously as well?

I guess it is fortunate that this is supposed to be only a temporary problem.  Once other fire detection systems are in place, I understand that these duties will be nullified.  Perhaps there would more faith amongst the musicians that this is true if you offer us a reasonable wage for this extra task.  If you were to offer us, for instance, $20 an hour, after 6 months of this duty you will have paid an extra $12,800 approximately.  Compared to 1) the cost of the Star's repair, 2) the money lost due to the Star being out of service, and 3) the overall cost of the public relations damage inflicted by news of the Star fire, this value is virtually nothing.  Then, when you come to the musicians, explaining to us that there is at present a temporary shortage of man power, you can offer us extra work at this reasonable wage.  With the reasonable wage, we are assured that you do value the duties in question, and consequently, we will value them as well.  By offering us this extra job with extra wages, many of us would be happy to help out the company.

But I'm afraid that isn't the message we are getting.  I'm sure there is a lot of grumbling like "musicians don't work enough hours"; "let them pull their weight".  Every day, there may good things and bad things that happen to me personally.  Some things make me glad and some things irritate me and I feel the need to dwell on why something should be a certain way. But the fact is, I realize how lucky I am.  I've had opportunities growing up that few people on this planet have had.  I have been raised by a loving family, and I was able, through loans and hard work, to attend and graduate from a terrific music school.  I'm lucky to have grown up in an environment that has allowed me to be as good a trumpet player as I can be.  I'm lucky that because of this rare skill, I am able to get jobs with fine companies like Princess Cruises; companies that value fine musicians.  If the current market doesn't support this model, then so be it.  I'm sure you can find musicians of lesser quality that will put up with all sorts of extra work.  It all comes down to what Princess Cruises values.

As for my values, I intend to stand up against this, as do others.  If I am fired due to my insubordination, then that will be my fate.  I understand that the policy of Princess Cruises is to repatriate me at my expense, and if this is the case, than I will also accept that.  But I have found that many contracts are at best something that was purchased for $2000 and written by a lawyer, not all of whom are competent, and at worse something that was downloaded from the web and filled in mad-lib style.  Maybe a better lawyer would find no flaws in such a contract, but maybe one would.  And if such flaws were found, it could have class-action written all over it, so I'm pretty sure I can get someone to look it over.  Still, even if nothing of that sort can be done, my decision regarding this course of action regarding this subject is final, and others feel as I do.

I truly hope it doesn't come to that.  This is my first contract with Princess.  I had heard that it was the best cruise line to work for, and at first I thought that this was true.  Now I fear that my first contract will also be my last, and it is too bad, because I know, even if nobody else does, my value to the company.  Beyond the music I bring, I like to be out among the passengers.  I enjoy talking with them and they enjoy talking with me, and I know that I am representing Princess well, simply because I can read the positive reaction I get.  It's all about what Princess Cruises values.

Sincerely,
Gustaf Lindquist