NSO Musicians Avoid Discord Heard at Other Orchestras
Monday, October 29, 2012
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Musicians
at the National Symphony Orchestra last month ratified a new 4-year agreement.
The successful conclusion to negotiations was “actually quite remarkable
in a year that has seen difficult orchestra negotiations in many major US
orchestras,” reports AFM 161-710 president Ed Malaga. “That the
National Symphony was able to reach an agreement, on time and with actual salary
increases in each of the four years of its term, is testimony to the healthy
artistic environment of the Kennedy Center and the good will that exists between
NSO musicians, board and management.” NSO musicians will receive yearly
increases of 1.78%, 2%, 2%, and 2.35% and to address pension concerns, in the
last year of the contract the musicians as a collective may elect to divert some
or all of that year’s salary increase to an employer-contribution. “We are
all very proud of what we have achieved together and hope that it sends the
message that the arts and classical orchestral music are very much alive and
thriving in Washington, DC,” added Malaga. This year the union also struck a
new 4-year agreement the Wolf Trap Foundation that freezes wages in the first
year, with increases totaling 6.5% over the next three years. Washington
National Opera staff won 8% scale increases over the 3 year term of the contract
as well as increases in seniority and health insurance payments. Negotiations
with Arena Stage resulted in a 1-year extension with wages frozen at the
previous year’s levels, after musicians rejected management demands for large
reductions in scale wages and minimums.
photo: the NSO
performing at the Capitol Fourth 2012 Independence Day
Concert