The musicians and board members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) have approved a three-year labor agreement.
This new deal, effective starting August 28, 2023, is designed to reinstate the traditional annual wage growth and includes a retroactive increase for BSO's musicians. This comes after a three-year wage freeze due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In their previous contract, ratified in 2020, the orchestra members experienced an average salary reduction of 37% in the initial year. As reported by the Berkshire Eagle, the base salary for BSO's 92 full-time musicians in 2020 was $120,000.
The fresh agreement offers the artistic management greater scheduling flexibility for concerts and is aimed at ensuring the orchestra's financial sustainability over the long term.
Furthermore, this accord underscores the shared dedication of BSO's musicians, trustees, and management to the orchestra's future.
Barbara Hostetter, BSO Board Chair; Todd Seeber, BSO Players Committee Chair; and Pat Hollenbeck, President of the Boston Musicians Association, jointly stated, "We are delighted to have reached this new agreement through a spirit of true cooperation and goodwill. We collectively look forward to embarking on a new phase in the illustrious history of the BSO with this new three-year labor contract."
The statement continued, "The terms of the contract recognize the financial hardships endured by the orchestra during the pandemic and their exceptional contributions to establishing the BSO as one of the world's foremost orchestras and educational institutions."
"The agreement also addresses the need for enhanced flexibility in scheduling Boston Symphony and Boston Pops concerts, in response to the changing audience demand for live music performances in the post-pandemic era. The BSO's core mission of performing orchestral music in-person remains central, and this agreement ensures our ability to maintain that standard at the highest level for years to come."
"We are particularly proud to have reached a mutually satisfactory agreement three weeks before the current contract's expiration, achieved through a deeply collaborative process that fortified our positive working relationship. We all concur that both the process and the outcome are 'victories' for the organization and audiences alike. We eagerly anticipate continuing our collegial collaboration to ensure the long-term prosperity and viability of the Boston Symphony."
