And the next US orchestra to strike is…
OrchestrasThe press statement is unusually succinct: ‘Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians announced today that the musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) have unanimously voted to authorize a strike against their employer, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.’
They say real-time basic wages for musicians have declined 15 percent over the oast five years.
And they point out that the New York Philharmonic has just granted a 30 percent rise.
“As our national center for the performing arts, the Kennedy Center should be a leader among arts institutions in fairly compensating its artists,” said Ed Malaga, President of the DC Federation of Musicians, Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians. “Instead, the Kennedy Center has made proposals that are far out of step with other orchestras throughout the country. It is disheartening to see that the Kennedy Center is unwilling to recognize the value of the world-class orchestra these musicians have built and to compensate them in the manner they deserve.”
UPDATE: The Kennedy Center has issued this statement on the state of negotiations:
The compensation package offered to the musicians would increase wages by 12% over a four-year growth contract through 2028. The package also includes significantly expanded healthcare options at reduced costs for the musicians, the addition of paid parental leave, updates to audition and tenure processes, and funding of a third full-time librarian position requested by the musicians.
The 12% wage increase would bring the minimum NSO base salary to $178,840, and the average for most musicians to $209,325. The Kennedy Center was proud to have recently reached a successful negotiation with a comparable wage increase with the other two orchestras operating at the Center—Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and Washington National Opera Orchestra.
They can call the Kennedy Center anything they want, but it is NOT the “national center for the performing arts” in the US.
In their dreams.
That said, the musicians deserve a wage commensurate with the orchestra’s prominence (and locale…).
Can’t tell from your update if they accepted a settlement or if that’s the offer they denied. More clarity please
There is only one other orchestra in the building. The KCOHO and the WNOO are the same group.
I heard an excellent “Otello” there a few months ago. Their concert hall has better acoustics than NY’s new Geffen Hall. $200k base salary should be reserved for “Top 5” U.S. orchestras and the NSO is not among them (nor any of the west coast orchestras in LA, SF, etc.)
Real time wages have declined for almost everyone over the past five years, not just musicians. It’s called inflation.
[They say real-time basic wages for musicians have declined 15 percent over the past five years.] Is it a coincidence that this was also the period of the Biden administration going after fossil fuels, creating anti-business regs and spending trillions we don’t have, demolishing the dollar’s purchasing power? Of course wages can’t keep up with 30% overall inflation. Now this might sting a bit but I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that 90% of pro musicians likely vote democrat and the crippling policies that go along with that. Perhaps it is time to stop blaming the man and start studying at the basic economic principles that create the wealth that feeds and waters America’s major symphony orchestras. And, this is just the beginning. At least two or three larger symphonies will go belly-up in 2025.
Best comment of the day.
This will come at a cost to the on-site staff, who are already underpaid, rarely (if ever) get wage increases, and are always at risk of layoffs.
Perhaps if both would focus on musical greatness instead of jumping into politics of the Ukrainian political correctness frenzy they could rise and avoid this bitterness altogether – like almost all other orchestras are demonstrating.