Cleveland Orchestra strike ends with new three-year contract

The agreement gives musicians 5% annual salary increases, a greater role in auditions and new workplace safety provisions.

The Cleveland Orchestra musicians have ended their strike after reaching agreement with management on a new three-year contract, clearing the way for the orchestra’s forthcoming European tour.

The agreement was reached on Sunday, 27 September, after a two-day strike that led to the cancellation of two concerts. Musicians had walked out at midnight on Friday following months of negotiations over compensation, workplace safety and their role in the orchestra’s audition process.

Under the new contract, musicians will receive salary increases of 5% in each of the three years. The increases will take the minimum guaranteed annual salary from $165,516 under the previous agreement to approximately $191,600 by the third year.

The agreement also gives musicians a greater voice in the audition process and includes improved workplace safety provisions. The musicians had sought stronger protections against repetitive-motion injuries, such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, as one of their principal demands during negotiations.

“We were able to agree to a fair compensation package, a voice in our auditions and improved safety for our musicians,” said Elayna Duitman, chair of the musicians’ negotiating committee and a violinist in the orchestra.

Two concerts cancelled

The strike forced the cancellation of the orchestra’s 25 September concert at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and its 26 September performance at Severance Music Center in Cleveland.

The settlement allows the orchestra to proceed with its planned European tour.

The musicians and management had been negotiating since July. Their previous collective bargaining agreement expired on 30 August and was extended until 23 September while talks continued.

The previous contract provided annual guaranteed salary increases of 4%, 3% and 3%, as well as a $5,000 signing bonus.

Compensation had emerged as the central point of disagreement. Management said the union had sought salary increases totalling 25% over three years and argued that such an increase would not be financially sustainable. Musicians, meanwhile, said their purchasing power had declined because of inflation and that their compensation had fallen behind that of peer orchestras.

The strike was the first by Cleveland Orchestra musicians since 2010.