“Oregon Symphony musicians have agreed to extend their contract for one year, until September, 2015. The extension to their contract, which was to expire this month, maintains current salary levels for the orchestra’s 68 musicians,” writes David Stabler in Friday’s (8/8) Oregonian (Portland). “The pay freeze comes on top of previous salary cuts. In 2010, the musicians and staff took a 13 percent pay cut. In the 2012-13 season, the musicians gave back a combined $350,000 of bonus or ‘premium pay,’ equal to 2.5 weeks of pay for each musician. And in the 2013-14 season, they waived a 2.6 percent salary increase and gave back their bonus pay equal to 2.5 weeks. But with a new administrative leader, Scott Showalter, who began work July 1, the musicians agreed to maintain their current contract … The concessions strengthened the orchestra’s balance sheet, board chair Karl Smith said in a statement. ‘The musicians’ contributions—along with salary reductions from the administrative staff—were significant in helping us finish the 2013-14 season in the black,’ he said.”
Posted August 12, 2014
