Musicians of the Oregon Symphony. Photo courtesy of the Oregon Symphony.
In Thursday’s (1/11) Oregon Artswatch, James Bash writes, “After five months of negotiation, the Oregon Symphony and its musicians have announced the ratification of a three-year collective bargaining agreement that takes effect immediately and runs through the 2025-26 season. The musicians will see wage increases of 6% in the contract’s first year and 3.5% in the second and third years … The musicians, who are members of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 99, and the Oregon Symphony Association came to a mutual agreement that includes additional sick time for COVID-related illness, expanded break times, a reduction in services, flexibility in the scheduling of rehearsals, and an increase in the annual instrument maintenance allowance. ‘We engaged in a process founded on mutual respect and open communication around the shared goal of securing a sustainable future for the Symphony and … [negotiated] a contact that lays the foundation for a thriving future,’ said Oregon Symphony President & CEO Isaac Thompson…. ‘On behalf of the Oregon Symphony’s Negotiating Committee, we extend our thanks to AFM Local 99 staff and the Oregon Symphony Association for a smooth, collaborative bargaining process, and to the musicians of the OSO …,’ said Martha Long, member of the musicians’ negotiating committee.”
