[From www.sfcv.org]

SF Opera Orchestra Contract Set

A day before the opening of the San Francisco Opera's 82nd season, the
orchestra got a new collective-bargaining contract, after round-the-clock
negotiations before and after the old contract expired on Aug.  31.
Completion of the membership approval vote is expected by Friday afternoon
for the agreement negotiated by the American Federation of Musicians
local.

No announcement has been made, but the Opera management is reported to
have accepted the contract on Thursday.  It is a three-year agreement,
calling for a 23-week season, excepting this year's four-week run in
January.  Base salaries will be reduced by 5.48% in the first year,
to $63,246; by .33% in the second year, to $63,210; and with a 2%
cost-of-living increase, to $64,281, in the final year.

Latest comparable figures available, for 2001, show a San Francisco Opera
Orchestra base salary of $57,748 for 29 weeks that year, against $44,125
for 25 weeks at the Chicago Lyric Opera, $81,016 for 52 weeks at the
Metropolitan Opera, $36,705 for 29 weeks at the New York City Opera,
$90,220 for 52 weeks at the San Francisco Symphony.

The new SF Opera figures come against the reported original management
proposal of a one-year contract, containing significant pay cuts,
elimination of paid personal leave, and reduction of medical benefits
for retirees.  Significantly, the agreed-on contract provides for unchanged
medical, vacation, and pension provisions, also stipulating for continued
"pay for play."

The Opera Chorus is still without a contract, but its representative
union, AGMA, is expected to renew bargaining soon. Other Opera employees,
belonging to various other unions, are covered by an existing contract,
but management is expected to ask to renegotiate those, more in line with
the orchestra contract.

Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
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