“The Houston Symphony Orchestra and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 65-699, have reached an agreement on a new, three-year contract that went into effect Oct. 7 and runs through Oct. 3, 2021,” reads an unsigned Tuesday (10/30) Houston Chronicle article. “The contract calls for a 4 percent raise in the 2019-2020 season followed by a 4.1 percent increase in salary in the 2020-2021 season. There is no raise for the current season…. The agreement also offers musicians who are new parents an additional two weeks of available sick leave during the first six months following their child’s birth or adoption. ‘I want to thank the Musicians of the Houston Symphony for their constructive partnership over the course of these negotiations,’ said Houston Symphony Orchestra executive director/CEO John Mangum… ‘I think we have a great outcome for all involved, with an agreement that takes into account the challenges we continue to face in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, but that also reaffirms our commitment to be one of America’s leading orchestras.’ ‘We were able to achieve an agreement that propels the HSO forward to become one of the leading orchestras of the A.F.M.,’ [said] Lovie Smith-Wright, president of Local 65-699.”
Posted October 31, 2018
