After more than one year and twenty-nine bargaining sessions, the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, represented by the American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147, have still not reached a contract agreement with the Symphony management. On June 15, the musician’s negotiation committee presented a comprehensive package that reduced their previous proposal by more than $1.5 million. Yesterday, the symphony management presented a proposal for a three year contract that demands average cuts of 8.8% per year to the musician’s salaries. Yesterday the musicians proposed federal mediation and management accepted the musician’s offer. The schedule for mediation has not been set.
In 2010, the FWSO musicians accepted a 13.5% pay cut to help the orchestra through difficult economic times. Since then, the musicians have regained only 5% of their lost wages. The FWSO management has been demanding additional cuts since June of 2015 despite a North Texas economy that has increased by 35% in the last decade. Under management’s current proposal, FWSO musicians would earn $20,000 less than the average for full time orchestra musicians in the United States. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians recently agreed to a two year contract that increases their wages by 3% each year. On average, DSO musicians earn $42,000 more yet perform almost as many as 50 fewer concerts each year than their counterparts in Fort Worth.
In late January an agreement was reached to extend the terms of the 2015 contract. The contract expires on July 31. Talks are scheduled to resume on July 19.
In 2010, the FWSO musicians accepted a 13.5% pay cut to help the orchestra through difficult economic times. Since then, the musicians have regained only 5% of their lost wages. The FWSO management has been demanding additional cuts since June of 2015 despite a North Texas economy that has increased by 35% in the last decade. Under management’s current proposal, FWSO musicians would earn $20,000 less than the average for full time orchestra musicians in the United States. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians recently agreed to a two year contract that increases their wages by 3% each year. On average, DSO musicians earn $42,000 more yet perform almost as many as 50 fewer concerts each year than their counterparts in Fort Worth.
In late January an agreement was reached to extend the terms of the 2015 contract. The contract expires on July 31. Talks are scheduled to resume on July 19.
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