MILWAUKEE, WI, June 10 -- In an unprecedented move, the Milwaukee Symphony
Orchestra musicians have ratified a new three-year master agreement with
the MSO three months before the expiration of the current contract. The
players voted overwhelmingly in favor of the new contract, which extends
through 1999, maintains the season at 44 weeks and confirms both the economic
viability and artistic quality of the institution.
The MSO Board of Directors will take a ratification vote on the contract
at its June meeting.
In a joint statement, MSO President Allen N. Rieselbach, Executive Director
Steven A. Ovitsky, and Players' Council Chair Sara Harmelink said: "This
contract is an excellent indication of the positive changes our organization
has gone through in the past few years. Through the cooperative effort of
board, staff and musicians, we are confirming the economic viability and
artistic excellence of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The agreement,
along with the recent announcement of Andreas Delfs as the new Music Director,
paves the way for a stronger, more vibrant orchestra that provides outstanding
entertainment and relevant education programs for the entire community in
a fiscally responsible manner."
The agreement allows for increases in salary over the three years and significant
improvements in pension benefits through fund redesign.
"Through improved communication, trust and involvement, we set the
tone for constructive negotiations. In 1993 the musicians took significant
reductions. This time, we found ways to create operational efficiencies
and maximize the dollars available for wages and benefits while adhering
to the goal of a balanced budget.
"The early settlement indicates a well-run organization in touch with
each others' concerns. We can now finish the 1996/97 budget and move forward
with long-range planning. The contract allows the orchestra to concentrate
on playing. It also enhances the ability of the institution to attract and
maintain quality musicians.
"With continued support from the community, the MSO is poised for a
dynamic future," Rieselbach, Ovitsky and Harmelink concluded.
The agreement provides for a 44 week season, with annual base salaries
of $46,244 ($1,051/week) in 1996-97, $48,092 ($1,093/week) in 1997-98, and
$50,028 ($1,137/week) in 1998-99. Current base salary is $44,800 ($1,020/week).
Due to changes in the way vacation weeks are assigned, members of the orchestra
will lose the right to work two of their vacation weeks, resulting in a
net loss of $676 in compensation in the first year of the new agreement
to approximately half of the orchestra.
The new agreement moves the orchestra into the American Federation of Musicians-Employers
Plan, a multi-employer pension program, at a rate of 5% of gross individual
earnings, producing dramatically improved pension benefits for members of
the orchestra at no additional cost to management. The agreement also provides
for a one-year improvement in pension benefits under the current program
for musicians retiring during that period. Major improvements were also
reached in long-term disability insurance, while medical insurance was left
completely unchanged, with no premium sharing by members of the orchestra.
There were also improvements in pay for third wind players who play two
instruments, in solo/ensemble pay, in dental coverage, and in the amount
of guaranteed rotated time off.
The major concessions made by the musicians were in the area of vacations,
pay for extras and substitute musicians, and orchestra size. Previously
the musicians had 5 weeks paid vacation, with two of those taken whenever
the musician chose. The current agreement increases the number to 6, but
gives management the right to assign the 2 weeks of rotated vacation under
a set of guidelines designed to preserve the musicians' right to vacation
for family and professional reasons. As mentioned above, this will mean
that musicians generally will not be able to work their vacation weeks for
additional compensation, as has been past practice.
Pay for extras and short-term substitute musicians was reduced from 100%
of per-service scale for full-time musicians to 90% of per-service scale,
except for MSO musicians working as extras and two long-time substitutes.
The agreement reduces the size of the full-time orchestra staff from 90
to 89 by providing for an internal audition to fill the assistant principal
bass vacancy, thus reducing the bass section from 9 to 8 members. There
is also a provision for a temporary reduction in the cello section by one
member, should there be any attrition in that section over the term of the
agreement.
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