Florida Philharmonic on Strike

On September 25, hours after last-minute negotiations were held in an effort to reach an agreement prior to the first service of the season, members of the Florida Philharmonic voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. Management’s final offer was a 5-percent increase in a single-year contract, a change from the previous offer which called for an 8.2% increase over 3 years. Musicians were demanding that management close the 32% gap between their salary and the ICSOM Orchestra average.

Over the past several years, the musicians have agreed to wage freezes and minimal increases while the cash-strapped orchestra recovered from its debt. The orchestra has reported a 9% increase in per-concert income for last season and projects a $1.4 million increase in next year’s income, and musicians feel that the time has come for management to share their success. Only half of this increased revenue would be needed to fund a 16% pay increase. Management proposes to use only 17% of this increase for musicians’ salaries.

As the chart below shows, the musicians’ salary has only outpaced inflation by 10% over the past 10 years, and in the last 5 years, they have actually lost ground with inflation. While the Philharmonic budget has increased nearly 50% in the past 5 years, the percentage of the budget going to the musicians has decreased (in 1994, 34.4% of the budget was devoted to musicians’ salaries; in 1998, salaries dropped to 28.6% of the budget). In 1991 Music Director James Judd demanded that the Board raise musicians’ salaries to be competitive with orchestras such as the Atlanta Symphony within 2 ½ years. In 1993 the Atlanta Symphony had a base salary of c.$45,000; in 1999 the Philharmonic base salary was $36,400. South Florida is the seventh largest population center in the U.S., and musicians feel that there are enough resources to support a world-class orchestra.

Despite being on strike, the musicians have agreed to perform the free community concerts that were originally scheduled, under their own banner. During the first week of the strike, musicians performed seven concerts at locations such as the Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Dillard High School, Mae Volen Senior Center in Boca Raton, and Harbor’s Edge in Delray Beach. They will continue to play free concerts in the community while they are on strike.

Negotiations Timetable

6/7: First negotiation session

7/13: Negotiation session canceled by Management

7/21: Management proposes a 1-year agreement with a 2% increase in salaries

7/27: Management reiterates original proposal

9/5: Management proposes a 3-year agreement with increases of 3%, 2%, and 3%

9/24: Management proposes a 1-year agreement with a 5% increase

9/25: Union calls strike; Musicians commence series of free community concerts

9/29: Management cancels first subscription series

Season	Weekly Salary	Increase from previous season	Inflation	Weekly Salary adjusted for Inflation
1999-00	$847	4.0%	2.2%	$874
1998-9	$814	0.0%	1.6%	$859
1997-8	$814	4.3%	2.3%	$872
1996-7	$780	3.2%	2.9%	$855
1995-6	$757	7.3%	2.8%	$854
1994-5	$705	3.1%	2.6%	$818
1993-4	$684	3.5%	3%	$814
1992-3	$661	8.4%	3.0%	$810
1991-2	$610	4.2%	4.2%	$770
1990-1	$586		5.4%	$771