In California, the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Association announced that it has reached an agreement with its musicians through June 30, 2013. The collective bargaining agreement with American Federation of Musicians Local #308 covers terms of employment for the 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 seasons, including wages, benefits, working conditions, and the use of new media. Compensation will remain steady at 2009-10 levels through the 2010-11 season and increase by 2 percent in each of the following two seasons; the contract also establishes a joint committee of musicians, staff, and board members, which will develop initiatives for community relations, educational programs, marketing, fundraising, and new-media development. “We are delighted that the new agreement has been ratified by a landslide vote,” said Musicians’ Committee Chair and Principal Clarinetist Donald Foster in a statement. “We are happy to have had a hand in crafting a fair and equitable document in this ‘not-so-easiest’ of economic times.” Santa Barbara Symphony Executive Director John Robinson said, “We had a very positive negotiation process, in which both sides embraced the common goal of keeping the Santa Barbara Symphony strong, long into the future. Despite the serious economic challenges of the times, we recognize the tremendous talent and dedication of our musicians and want to stretch to compensate them for their service to the orchestra.”
Posted November 18, 2010
