“The Jacksonville Symphony Association and its musicians’ union have agreed to a new five-year contract that includes raises over the course of the pact that will increase the base salary for musicians, currently $38,057, by 37 percent to $52,026,” writes Charlie Patton in Thursday’s (1/26) Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville). “The new contract, signed Wednesday night, also provides for a larger core orchestra—60 musicians, up from the current 53—and a longer season—40 weeks up from the current 35. ‘It’s really remarkable all the way around,’ said Todd Lockwood, the orchestra’s associate principal bass and chairman of the musicians negotiating committee.… Symphony president Robert Massey called the fact that the negotiators on both sides reached an agreement eight months ahead of the deadline that both the board and the union ratified on the first vote ‘reflects the unified vision of our board, musicians, and administrative staff.’ … The new contract, which begins next season, will raise the base salary from $38,057 this season to $42,518 next season and increase the base salary by 19 percent over the course of contract.” With the added weeks, annual salaries will rise 37 percent.
Posted January 27, 2017
Pictured: Jacksonville Symphony and Music Director Courtney Lewis at Jacoby Symphony Hall, September 2015. Photo by Will Dickey / Florida Times-Union
