New York Philharmonic Musicians Secure 30% Wage Increase

The New York Philharmonic and its musicians' union finalized a collective bargaining agreement Thursday, ensuring a 30% wage increase over three years. This accord with Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians includes raises of about 15% in 2024-25, and 7.5% for each of the next two seasons, elevating base pay to $205,000 by the contract's conclusion. Ratification is anticipated on Friday, with the deal effective from Saturday through September 20, 2027.

The new agreement follows a four-year contract that involved pandemic-related pay cuts through August 2023 and was set to expire this week. The philharmonic is currently in a leadership transition, awaiting the arrival of renowned music director Gustavo Dudamel in 2026-27. Jaap van Zweden departed at the end of the 2023-24 season, leaving the ensemble without a music director for two seasons. The organization is also seeking a new CEO following Gary Ginstling's sudden resignation in July, after a brief one-year tenure. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)