The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin in concert. Photo by Jeff Fusco.
In Monday’s (9/11) Philadelphia Inquirer, Rita Giordano reports, “On the day their current contract expired, players of the Philadelphia Orchestra voted to reject a proposed settlement. They say it would have kept them unacceptably below other top-class orchestras in pay … The orchestra members voted definitively Sunday to reject the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center Inc.(POKC)’s ‘best and final offer,’ which came after three full days of bargaining. Eighty-five of the musicians voted against the offer, and two abstained, the union announced Monday. None voted in favor, promoting union calls for a return to the bargaining table…. Union members said the offer failed to meet their goals of pay parity with the nation’s other top orchestras, along with not adequately addressing their concerns about better retirement benefits, higher pay for substitute musicians, and reduced workplace protections and autonomy. A spokesperson for POKC management says their settlement offer was a fair one that would have allowed the members income growth. POKC is offering a 13.5% increase over three years…. There was no word of when the next bargaining session would be.” The orchestra’s next performance is on Sept. 20, with opening night on Sept. 28.
