SF Opera Orchestra, Management Have Another Temporary Agreement

War Memorial Opera House

Photo by Lisa Hirsch

I've just received the following from the musicians of the Opera Orchestra. (You, too, can receive these; sign up here.) The Opera Orchestra is a treasure; they are playing magnificently in the current Tristan und Isolde. (If you haven't seen it, two performances remain.)

The Opera Orchestra today signed another short-term contract extension to provide for additional time for negotiations with management on a long-term contract. This extension will continue through May 30 under the same terms of the contract extension under which we are currently operating.

We are hopeful that during this time management will operate in good faith and put forward a proposal that fairly values the contributions of the Orchestra, protects and invests in the artistic product of the organization, and allows us to continue producing world-class performances. A long-term extension that meets these criteria is the only way to provide the stability that the Orchestra — and the Opera as a whole — will require to be successful in the coming years.

While the proposals we have seen to date have been woefully inadequate and unacceptable to our members — proposals that include cuts to pay relative to inflation, a reduction in benefits, and drastic reductions to the number of musicians in our complement — we remain hopeful that we can find an agreeable resolution in the time afforded to us by this extension.

Until then, we will continue to demand a fair, long-term contract. We will not settle for any agreement that jeopardizes the future of our musicians and the organization.

Over the coming months we will have more ways for you to show your support, which will be vital to us reaching a fair agreement. We will continue to keep you updated here, and we thank you for your ongoing support during this critical time!

Sincerely,

The San Francisco Opera Orchestra