FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2012

Contact:
Rachelle Roe, roer@cso.org
312-294-3090

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT ON

SEPTEMBER 22 CANCELED DUE TO STRIKE BY MUSICIANS
CSO Musicians Rejected Proposals from the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and Initiate Strike
Management Offered to Continue Negotiating While Musicians Played

CHICAGO Today, the Chicago Federation of Musicians (CFM), Local 10-208

negotiating committee representing musicians of the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra (CSO), rejected proposals from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Association (CSOA) for a three-year contract that would have provided musicians
with a minimum base weekly salary of $2,795 in the first year, with increases to
$2,835 and $2,910 in years two and three, respectively. The previous weekly
base minimum salary is $2,785.
The last, best and final contract offered by the Association would have made the
members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra among the best-compensated in a
U.S. orchestra, while also maintaining benefits such as 12 weeks of paid time off
per year, a defined benefit pension plan, excellent health insurance and a
minimum size of 106 orchestra musicians. The parties are chiefly at odds over
wages and employee contributions toward health care costs.
We regret any inconvenience the musicians strike causes our audiences and
patrons and assure you that the Association remains committed to reaching a fair
agreement, said Deborah Rutter, president of the CSO Association. Chicago
Symphony Orchestra musicians are world class professionals, and deserve every
dollar and every benefit offered in this contract. At the same time, we must
soundly manage the finances of the Association.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is extremely disappointed that the

musicians have decided to strike. Looking around the country, its clear that the more
prudent path would be to work with us to ensure their future, rather than engage in this
action, she added.
Notwithstanding managements request to begin negotiations in the spring, the CFM did
not agree to start negotiations until July, and then only offered four half-day sessions
before demanding a recess and refusing to return to the bargaining table until
September 10. Although management was willing to meet more often, the parties have
had only seven additional sessions. When the contract expired on September 16, both
parties agreed to continue to negotiate while the musicians worked under the terms of
the expired contract.
During the unions recently expired five-year contract, the musicians base minimum pay
rates increased by 23%, making the musicians minimum weekly base salary $2,785 or
$144,820 annually. When additional compensationwhich every active Orchestra
member earnsis added in for items such as overtime and seniority, the average
annual pay for musicians is $173,000. When benefits are included, such as 12 weeks
of paid time off, paid sabbatical leaves, and a defined benefit pension plan that provides
nearly $75,000 per year pension benefit for retirees, the value of their overall package is
significant and, in most respects, at the top of their peers.
The Association proposed that musicians contribute more towards the cost of their
health care benefits, and that they agree to plan design changes to help reduce the
costs of the plan. The healthcare plan for musicians under the expired contract is far
more expensive per person than the plan provided to administrative employees at the
CSO and far above the costs generally borne by employers. At a cost to the CSOA that
averages $18,000 per musician annually, it featured low employee contributions, copays and out of pocket limits. The CSOA subsidizes 95% of this cost, while the
musicians contribute just 5% towards this cost, or as little as $25 per week for family
coverage. The Association asked musicians to adopt a plan design similar to that of the
CSOs administrative staff, and to increase their contributions. The union insisted that it
would only agree to healthcare changes if management agreed to wage increases that
would cover their increased cost.
In keeping with the economic challenges across the U.S., where many of the nations
orchestras have faced large deficit and even bankruptcy problems in recent years, the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Associationthrough creative programming to attract
new audiences, successful marketing strategies to increase ticket sales, and
collaboration with musicians to advance key promotional opportunitieshas sought to

maintain a fiscally responsible and sustainable business model based on the long-term
strategic goals of the Association. Prior to 2012, CSO staff salaries were frozen and
staff was cut in 2009 in an effort to attain reasonable cost savings without negatively
affecting programming, management and other aspects of the CSO.
We have been taking thoughtful and innovative steps toward tangible financial,
audience and reputational gains, commented Rutter. Still, CSO revenues are growing
at small percentages per year, while expensesof which musicians salaries and
benefits represent the largest fixed costs of the organizationare growing at a much
steeper pace. The contract that we offered and that the musicians rejected maintains
that delicate balance between how we spend and how we manage our finances, while
at the same time recognizing the preeminence of our great Orchestra. The CSOA
continues to approach these negotiations constructively, and we remain committed to
reaching a fair agreement that will ensure the long-term financial stability of our great
institution.
Patrons holding tickets to the canceled concert on September 22 will be able to
exchange their tickets for upcoming Symphony Center performances during the
2012/13 season, may donate their tickets to the CSO, or may receive a refund. For
further information regarding ticket options, ticket holders are asked to call Symphony
Center at 312-294-3000. In addition, cso.org will have the most up-to-date information
and updates for patrons about the status of future concerts.
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