The press statement is unusually succinct: ‘Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians announced today that the musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) have unanimously voted to authorize a strike against their employer, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.’
They say real-time basic wages for musicians have declined 15 percent over the oast five years.
And they point out that the New York Philharmonic has just granted a 30 percent rise.
“As our national center for the performing arts, the Kennedy Center should be a leader among arts institutions in fairly compensating its artists,” said Ed Malaga, President of the DC Federation of Musicians, Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians. “Instead, the Kennedy Center has made proposals that are far out of step with other orchestras throughout the country. It is disheartening to see that the Kennedy Center is unwilling to recognize the value of the world-class orchestra these musicians have built and to compensate them in the manner they deserve.”
UPDATE: The Kennedy Center has issued this statement on the state of negotiations:
The compensation package offered to the musicians would increase wages by 12% over a four-year growth contract through 2028. The package also includes significantly expanded healthcare options at reduced costs for the musicians, the addition of paid parental leave, updates to audition and tenure processes, and funding of a third full-time librarian position requested by the musicians.
The 12% wage increase would bring the minimum NSO base salary to $178,840, and the average for most musicians to $209,325. The Kennedy Center was proud to have recently reached a successful negotiation with a comparable wage increase with the other two orchestras operating at the Center—Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and Washington National Opera Orchestra.
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