In Wednesday’s (9/26) Chicago Tribune, Mark Caro reports, “The Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians ratified a new three-year contract Tuesday morning that agrees to modest salary increases and hefty health-care premium jumps as well as some more flexible work rules. The musicians met before their 10 a.m. rehearsal with [Music Director Riccardo] Muti and voted to approve the new deal. … The meeting was the first chance for the bulk of the orchestra’s 100-plus members to see details of the tentative agreement reached Monday night by the musicians’ negotiating committee and the CSO Association and board. That agreement ended the musicians’ strike, which began Saturday evening shortly before that night’s subscription concert, the only performance canceled because of the walkout. … CSO Association President Deborah Rutter declined to discuss contract terms Tuesday, saying the board first must ratify it. … But on behalf of the board, she said: ‘Thank you to the musicians for working with us on this contract to come up with a way for the next three years to work together to continue to ensure the artistic as well as the financial health of this institution.’ Rutter stressed that the organization has been operating in a ‘very challenging’ economy, with such factors as investment returns and bond rates affecting the bottom line, so any contract had be consistent with the CSO’s long-term planning.”
Posted September 27, 2012
