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

 

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