The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra says that its musicians and the board of directors have mutually agreed to changes in the RPO's 2014-15 collective bargaining agreement. Officials say the changes address the orchestra's challenging financial situation and include a salary freeze as well as a reduction in the number of work-weeks for the musicians.
The changes affect the third year of a four-year agreement that was ratified in 2012, a contract that itself began with some significant concessions.
The new changes include elimination of one of the work-weeks that was to be added back this season as well as the cutting of a scheduled wage increase and some concessions in health insurance and pension benefits. The changes also affect RPO administrative staff, who continue to have mandatory furloughs.
RPO Board Chair Dawn Lipson says that the board is "very grateful that the musicians of the RPO continue to show great faith in the future of this phenomenal orchestra. The best way that we can repay their faith is to continue to aggressively pursue every path to a more stable and sustainable future and I am confident that we can succeed."
Among the ways the RPO is address the recurring deficit is exploring an intensive effort to raise community awareness; re-examining every expense; pursuing collaborative opportunities and being responsive to community feedback in tweaking the subscription model.
RPO President and CEO Charles Owens says that even as Rochester celebrates an exciting new era under the new music director, Ward Stare, the community deserves to know the sacrifices the musicians and staff are making and the role people in the area can play in keeping the RPO alive for future generations.
The union local president, David Angus of the American Federation of Musicians, says that the board and the community must see to it that a substantially increased permanent funding stream is achieved. He says the employees cannot continue to shoulder the financial burdens.
Ward Stare says he is confident that everyone working together can turn the enthusiasm shown for the RPO at the start of the new season into increased financial support.
