In Thursday’s (12/13) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jim Higgins reports, “The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and its musicians have ensured labor harmony through the 2014-15 season by extending and modifying their collective bargaining agreement. Their new concord, which went into effect Nov. 19, is a pleasant counterpoint to a year of labor-management strife in the American classical music world. … Under the terms of the new agreement, the Milwaukee musicians relinquished most of a previously planned raise for the 2012-13 season. The 2012-13 minimum musician salary will now be $59,250, rather than the originally scheduled $63,500. The orchestra’s total of 83 musicians on season contracts stays intact. The MSO reports that the new collective bargaining agreement will result in savings of $923,000 over its three years. … ‘We see this contract as an important step to help the organization achieve financial stability,’ Scott Kreger, chairman of the players council, said in the MSO statement. ‘Reaching this contract agreement is a big win for everyone,’ said Mark Niehaus, MSO president and executive director. ‘Achieving savings and cost certainty for our organization means we can plan for the future with continued fiscal responsibility.’ ”
Posted December 13, 2012
