The Virginia Symphony Orchestra has announced that orchestra management and musicians ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement earlier this month. Negotiations for the agreement—which covers the 2010-11 through 2013-14 seasons—began last June and concluded in December. In a press release, the orchestra, based in Norfolk, stated that “sacrifices were made on all sides,” including a reduction of the total number of contracted weeks per season, in exchange for a more liberal leave policy for musicians; the outer years of the agreement include salary restoration and a modest salary increase. VSO Assistant Concertmaster Amanda Armstrong, who chaired the musician negotiating team, said the agreement was ratified by a “large margin” and that while it contains “significant concessions, including a two-week reduction of the season and a permanent reduction in the size of the core orchestra, we acknowledge that the current financial environment has unfortunately necessitated this sacrifice from the musicians. The climate of the negotiations was cordial and productive, and we look forward to a vibrant future.” The VSO’s president and CEO is Eric Borenstein; JoAnn Falletta is music director.
Posted January 26, 2011
