Word came of the recent settlement of a new contract for the Boston Symphony. In years past, the rates of pay for substitute and extra musicians (which are filled by freelance musicians) was locked to the rate paid to contracted members of the BSO. This contract cycle the rate for freelance musicians (which includes the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra) was slashed 17 percent. Basically the contract, which gave BSO musicians a 4.6 percent increase in the first year of the contract (with more to come in subsequent years of the contract) made room for a raise for the permanent members on the backs of the freelancers.
I think it’s a troubling development, because it’s not likely to ever be given back. The Oregon Symphony has a lower per-service rate for substitutes and extras, and though it’s always been a priority to get parity for the freelancers, it has never been the highest one. In the quid pro quo world of negotiating a CBA, you have to give something to get something, and sub pay always goes off the table very early on. I don’t know the history of the OSO’s move away from parity, but I have the feeling that it was a similar deal to what has just happened in Boston.
What’s worse is the message that something like this sends to your pool of freelance players. They are basically expendable, since if they weren’t , you’d be keeping their pay at a competitive level. In Portland, our subs earn less per-service than in the Opera or Ballet orchestras, which is to me frankly unacceptable. If you are a freelance musician who is being called to play with your local major orchestra, you’re most likely getting called at the last minute (often the morning of the first rehearsal) because a regular player has fallen ill or been injured. You’re expected to play at the same level as the full-time members of the orchestra, but you’re often sight-reading a part that, if you’re lucky, you’ve played before, or if you’re unlucky, is a world-premiere of a new work. You basically play an audition for your section every time you show up to work, and for this you are paid LESS than everyone else?? Give me a break! Parity of freelance musicians is not just a “nice option” but the only one.