Chicago Classical Review »» CSO strike is over, directors and musicians approve new five-year contract



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By Lawrence A. Johnson

UPDATE.

An agreement was reached Saturday on a new contract with the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, putting an end to the longest and most controversial strike of its 128 years of existence.

The CSO Association Board of Directors voted Saturday night to approve a new five-year contract following the unanimous ratification of the Musicians Union earlier in the day. The break in the confrontation took place Friday with the mediation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel at City Hall, which allowed to end the seven-week strike.

The performances at the Symphony Center resume their normal course with the Wednesday night concert with Itzhak Perlman and Evgeny Kissin.

The terms of the backdated contract (from 2018 to 2023) provide for a 13.25% increase in base salary base salary over five years (2%, 2%, 2.5%, 3.25%, 3.5%). %), to reach an annual minimum. salary of $ 181,272 in the season 2022-23.

The CSOA prevailed over the main issue of disagreement, the desire of management to move musicians from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan. All OSC musicians will now switch to a new defined contribution plan, with players hired after July 2020 entering the plan directly.

The pot has been softened by more favorable terms for musicians currently in the defined benefit plan to move to the defined contribution plan.

The transition to the new plan will begin in stages beginning July 1, 2020. The employer's annual contribution is equal to 7.5% of base salary, plus additional payments for the first three years of the plan, depending on the plan. the age and years of service of the musician.

In addition, there has been no change in the current amounts of musicians' contributions to health care and their cost-sharing, insurance coverage and deductibles.

"The CSOA honors and values ​​the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra," said President Jeff Alexander in a statement released Saturday night. "Together, after months of discussions, hard work and compromise between the two parties, we expect a path that builds on the CSO's extraordinary artistic legacy and that will bring the best orchestral music to the world. performance, recordings, programs and transformative educational activities. to the public for future generations. I am pleased that we have reached agreement on a new contract that will benefit both musicians and the CSOA. "

"The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has been a cultural treasure for this community for 128 years," said Helen Zell, Chair of the Board of Directors. "Our directors recognize and honor the exceptional artistic talent of musicians. This new agreement reflects the Orchestra's excellence and guarantees musicians the outstanding compensation they deserve, while ensuring their long-term financial sustainability and that of the CSOA through the transition of the pension plan. "

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