“Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians ratified a new three-year contract Friday that will include the restoration of salary cuts that were made in the wake of the economic downturn,” writes Tim Smith in Saturday’s (9/14) Baltimore Sun. “By the 2015-2016 season, annual base salary for tenured musicians will reach $75,024, an 11 percent increase over the base of $67,600 under the previous contract, which expired Sept. 8. Players will also receive a benefit in the form of increased employer contributions to medical insurance plans and pension plans. ‘We certainly appreciate the effort from our management and board to make some real improvements for our orchestra,’ said violinist Gregory Mulligan, head of the players’ committee.… The deal still leaves the musicians behind a base pay level of around $78,000 that they briefly reached during the 2008-2009 season.… ‘We are working our way back, but doing it responsibly,’ said BSO president and CEO Paul Meecham…. The contract includes flexibility in travel and related work rules for the players that will enable the BSO to start a Sunday matinee concert series next season at … the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda…. The size of the BSO, now at 82 musicians, will rise to 83 under the new deal.”
Posted September 16, 2013
