Negotiation Update 2016

Most professional orchestra collective bargaining agreements expire during the summer months and since the economic downturn, it is increasingly common to see groups continue negotiating past the current agreement’s expiration date.

A decade ago, that used be cause for alarm but in today’s environment, it is practically standard operating procedure assuming groups don’t manage to wrap things up months in advance. Last season witnessed nearly a dozen middle to large budget size orchestras cross that line and the count for this year is a bit lower.

Out of the 10 groups with agreements that expired over the summer, five have already ratified new agreements, four are continuing negotiations via play and talk arrangements, and one is engaged in a work stoppage.

• Baltimore Symphony: ratified new agreement (details)
• Buffalo Philharmonic: ratified new agreement (details)
• Fort Worth Symphony: agreement expired, work stoppage, strike
  
• Milwaukee Symphony: ratified new agreement (details not yet public)
• National Symphony: agreement expired, play and talk
• North Carolina Symphony: ratified new agreement (details not yet public)
• Pacific Symphony: agreement expired, play and talk
• Philadelphia Orchestra: agreement expired, play and talk
• Pittsburgh Symphony: agreement expired, play and talk
• San Diego Symphony: ratified new agreement (details)

We’ll continue to follow the five outliers as details unfold.