The Minnesota Orchestra and Houston Symphony have just concluded negotiations with their musicians that have resulted in substantial cuts in wages, either via pay cuts, unpaid furloughs, or both.
In Minnesota [from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune]:
Musicians at the Minnesota Orchestra have agreed to concessions in the face of financial pressures on the organization. The deal saves about $4.2 million — from salary, pension reductions and frozen positions — over the remaining three years of a contract that expires in 2012.
The plan involves pay cuts totaling $1.8 million. The orchestra will also delay filling open positions, which saves another $1.8 million. Reducing pension contributions to 5 percent of salary from 7 percent will save $600,000.
Musician salaries make up 51 percent of the orchestra’s annual budget.
President and CEO Michael Henson said the 95-player orchestra has 10 positions open, including that of concertmaster following the departure of Jorja Fleezanis. That post will definitely be filled, Henson said. The new agreement allows the orchestra to leave an average of six positions open over the course of the deal.
In Houston [from the Houston Chronicle]:
The Houston Symphony announced Friday that it will shutter administrative offices next week, furlough musicians and reduce conductor’s salaries next season to save nearly $900,000.
The cuts will not change the concert schedule for next year, said Matthew VanBesien, the symphony’s executive director and CEO.
“We have tried in every possible way to preserve the core of what we do,” he said.
The symphony’s administrative staff of about 50 had been told last spring to expect the unpaid week.
Symphony management and the musicians’ union Friday morning signed an amendment to their contract. It requires the 86 musicians to take two unpaid furlough weeks between October and May.
In addition, Music Director Hans Graf, Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski and Associate Conductor Robert Franz agreed to an 8 percent to 10 percent pay cut that will result in more than $45,000 in savings.