The Florida Orchestra and Music Director Michael Francis in performance.
An article in last Friday’s (3/28) Tampa Bay Business Journal, about the new musicians contract at the Florida Orchestra, contained several inaccuracies. The article was excerpted as a News Brief on April 1. The Tampa Bay Business Journal has reposted the article with correct information, which the excerpt below contains.
In the updated (4/3) Tampa Bay Business Journal article, Davonta Davis writes, “The Florida Orchestra, based in St. Petersburg, recently ratified a new four-year contract with its musicians, marking a significant step in the organization’s ongoing growth. The agreement, effective through August 31, 2029 … was reached more than 5 months before the current contract expires … According to a release, the agreement between the Florida Orchestra and the American Federation of Musicians-Florida Gulf Coast Local resulted from collaborative meetings that included TFO management, musicians from the orchestra committee and TFO board directors…. For TFO’s 68 full-time musicians, the collective bargaining agreement will gradually increase pay for the next four years: 3% in the 2025-26 season, followed by 4% for the next two seasons, then 5% in the final year of the contract. In year three, musicians will also gain one extra week of work and one more paid vacation week. The agreement will increase total guaranteed compensation by 23% over the previous contract, from $50,495 in the final year of the current contract to $62,259 in year four of the new contract…. In March, the orchestra received two $1 million donations aimed at expanding artistic initiatives, enhancing performances and strengthening music education across the region. These contributions were seen as a testament to the community’s trust in TFO’s vision under President and CEO Ignacio Barrón Viela.”
