The labour dispute between the musicians and the management of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra came to an end. A one-year contract has been signed, and so, after a long lock-out of the musicians and a delay of one week for the new season, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians will be back on the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall stage this weekend for the first time in months.
In a press conference Music Director Marin Alsop said both groups had emerged from the contract dispute with a new « collaborative momentum. » She added that both sides are “working so that this great city of Baltimore doesn’t lose one of the true treasures, not just of Baltimore but of the United States. »
The new contract includes a 38-week regular schedule for the symphony as well as a two-week summer series.
Musicians will see a 2.4% increase in weekly scale, as well as a share of bonus pay totaling $1.6 million for the 10 weeks of summer. Base pay for musicians will be $81438 over 50 weeks. Over the year, that’s a higher salary than the $82794 base pay for 52 weeks under the previous contract. Musicians will also receive year-round benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability and instrument insurance, and four weeks of paid vacation during their concert season.
Under the agreement, players will withdraw an unfair labour practice complaint they filed with the National Labour Relations Board. The contract also bars strikes and lockouts through Sept. 6, 2020.
Another key component of the deal is the establishment of a Vision Committee, a new standing committee of the BSO’s board that will include musicians in planning for the future.
