“Musicians at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra have ratified a two-year deal that will take them to June 30, 2018,” writes Graydon Royce in Tuesday’s (9/29) Star Tribune (Minneapolis). “The new pact will become effective July 1…. Musicians making less than $80,000 a year will receive a $4,000 raise in the first year and $2,000 in the second. Musicians above the $80,000 threshold will only get the bump in year two. The guaranteed minimum salary will rise to $66,000 in 2018, an increase of 10 percent over two years. The roster will stay at 28 players. A group of musicians had been meeting with board and management representatives regularly during the past 18 months on artistic matters. In June, the two sides decided to pursue an extension. Violinist Nina Tso-Ning Fan said the players were pleased to win back some of the concessions the union made in the lockout-ending contract in April 2013. … SPCO President Bruce Coppock … acknowledged the sacrifice made by higher-paid musicians, who will not receive a raise in the first year of the extension…. He also said he anticipates the SPCO will be able to announce a balanced budget in December, the 20th in 22 seasons.”
Posted September 29, 2015
