In California, the Santa Rosa Symphony and the American Federation of Musicians Union Local 292 have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract under which musicians will receive a wage increase of 2 percent per year. The contract—which begins July 1, 2011 and extends through June 30, 2014—also allows for greater flexibility in the number of required services, enabling contracted musicians to have more time to accept other performance opportunities. Under the new contract, a five-member Musicians Leadership Committee will meet annually with the music director and association representatives to discuss non-contractual matters related to artistic welfare. An agreement for the 2010-11 season between the musicians and the Symphony Association had frozen musician wages at expired 2009-10 rates, minimizing the orchestra’s anticipated operating deficit for the 2011 fiscal year. “Given the fiscal challenges so many orchestras face today,” said Executive Director Alan Silow, “we are delighted to have negotiated a new multi-year agreement in a spirit of mutual respect and trust.”
Posted June 23, 2011
