Minnesota Star Tribune reported this week that an agreement had been reached between the musicians and management of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The musicians have agree to take a 12% pay cut for the 2009-2010 season. In addition, 7 administrators have been laid off, senior management has agreed to a 15.5% pay cut and a planned European tour has been canceled.
The 12% cut lowers the base salary at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra from $73,732 to $65,000.
Minnesota Public Radio reports that the pay cuts will allow the orchestra to balance it’s budget for the 2009-2010 season, despite the worsening economy.
From the Star Tribune:
The pay-cut talks happened “without a hint of rancor,” said Sarah Lutman, who took over as SPCO president in December. She said it was key that management and staff took pay cuts before approaching musicians to do likewise. After that, Lutman said, “There never was any inkling that the musicians would do anything but step forward to help keep us vital and exciting.”
An orchestra member confirmed that approach Monday: “When they finally came to us, it was with the message that ‘We have cut everything we possibly could, the only thing left is that we need your help,’” said Thomas Kornacker, co-principal second violinist and a member of a task force of musicians, board members and management that has been meeting on pay issues since February. “We looked at the numbers and we agreed,” Kornacker said, with musicians voting “overwhelmingly” last week to approve the pay cut.
Read the full story: SPCO musicians agree to a 12% cut in pay
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