Symphonic Shorts

Palm Beach Opera Signs CBA

A collective bargaining agreement with Palm Beach Opera has just been ratified. For the first time in its history, the musicians will have a written agreement with the Opera.

Negotiating committee members were Virginia Barnes, Johann Bast, Matt Brown, Michael Forte, and Laura Miller. Lead Negotiator was Chris Durham.

Terms

  • 4-year agreement (through 5/31/03)
  • Members are employees (not Independent Contractors)
  • Electronic Media language is included
  • Audition procedures are defined
  • Tenure language is defined
  • Core orchestra of 29 strings, 8 woodwinds, 10 brass, and 3 percussion

Services

  • Maximum 8 services per week
  • Maximum 2 services per day
  • Maximum 1 performance per day
  • (exceptions for the Gala Concert)

Wages

  • Basic Scale: see chart below
  • Principal pay: 25% premium
  • Doubling: 15% for first double; 10% for each additional double
  • Travel: none
  • Cartage: Local 655 rates

Palm Beach Opera Orchestra performs 4 productions a year, with 5 performances of each production, and is the orchestra for Ballet Florida’s Nutcracker.

 

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Wages (3hr.)

$94.50

$96.39

$98.32

Based on CPI

Wages (3.5hr.)

$110.25

$112.45

$114.70

Based on CPI

Pension (AFM-EPF)

5%

5%

6%

7%


Philharmonic Members Backstage at the Opera

996sympho1.gifOn November 13, in a dispute over electronic media rights, Philharmonic musicians were instructed by the AFM to not perform until cameras were removed from a Florida Grand Opera staged rehearsal. Rather than remove the cameras, the Opera requested that musicians leave the pit so that a piano could be brought in. AFM Special Assistant and former Local 655 Trustee Dick Gabriel was on hand to assist.996sympho2.gif

A co-signatory for 14 years, the Opera has refused to sign the collective bargaining agreement this year.

 


Showing Solidarity-Atlanta Ballet Strike

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NWS Fund Raiser

The New World Symphony will host an on-line auction at its web site (www.nws.org) as a part of it’s annual fund-raising campaign.

Ted Arison Dies

Ted Arison, co-founder of the New World Symphony and founder of Carnival Cruise Lines, died on October 1. Arison was responsible for initiating the NWS Endowment Fund with what was at the time the largest single contribution to an orchestra by an individual.

News & Announcements

Miami Steel and Percussion Orchestra (Brad Watson, director) will be the opening act of Miami Bach Society’s Tropical Baroque Festival in March...Alfredo Oliva has been chosen to be on the Classical Nomination Committee for the Grammy’s...The Florida Philharmonic has appointed Alfred A. Adams III as corporate giving manager...

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