Margaret BauerTime magazine called the silence “deafening” and Washington University students were “disappointed.” But, after two months on strike, musicians from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra have returned to work.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled in February that the strike, which commenced in the beginning of January due to contractual disagreements, was illegal because the musicians’ lawyer, Leonard Leibowitz, failed to file legal notices with the federal mediator’s office at least 30 days prior to the end of the musicians’ contract, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This forced the musicians and Symphony management back to the negotiating tables.
A new three and a half year contract was finally agreed upon, in which musicians would be paid $74,000 in the first year, with approximately $1,000 raises each year. In addition, a signing bonus of $2500 was added, along with a bonus of $4,000 for remaining at the symphony through the life of the contract, unless a musician retires. Other changes in the new contract added health benefits and new work rules.
“The contract that both sides agreed to is a contract that both protects their artistic [license] … and our fiscal responsibility,” said Symphony spokesman Jeff Trammel. “We’ve had a great deal of positive things in the last year or two, and were hoping to build on that.”
The end of the strike also means that ArtSci Council, the school council for the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, can integrate trips to the symphony once again.
“We’re relieved [that the strike is over],” said junior James Wang, acting vice president and treasurer of ArtSci Council. “This is the focus of some of our major programming, so we’re very happy it’s back on track.”
However, the salary of musicians in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) is still lower than other top orchestras, such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which pays $100,000 per year to its musicians, according to Time magazine.
“No one ever wins in a strike situation,” said Trammel. “Both sides have agreed that there’s going to be … a healing process. We’re going to take steps to go about getting back to business and starting that process again.”
The difficult struggle to arrive at this agreement has made the end of the work stoppage bittersweet. On the one hand, musicians are back at work, but on the other hand, many relationships within the Symphony are strained.
One musician told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she is uncertain about how she feels regarding the outcome.
“It’s hard, because I do still feel upset. I also realize that we’re going to have to start rebuilding, and do a lot of rebuilding. It’s going to take awhile. And it’s going to take time to fully see the long-term effects [of the strike and of the contract],” she said.
Originally planned during the strike, an unprecedented concert comprised of about 30 musicians from 14 other symphonies proceeded as the strike ended and provided a much-needed boost to the recuperating Symphony. The visiting musicians decided to come to perform in St. Louis at their own expense because they wanted to show support for the striking musicians, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
About 1,300 people attended the concert, which took place in a local church. According to many who attended, the experience was very moving.
“It was one of the most thrilling concerts I’ve ever played … because of the type of event it was, and the feeling of commitment and passion between the audience and the orchestra,” Franklin Cohen, the head clarinet for the Cleveland Orchestra told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Many, including the musicians, management, patrons and Washington University students, are glad the strike has finally come to an end, even if the future of the Symphony is not yet clear.
“I think it was a real loss during these last few months,” said junior Aaron Mertz, president of ArtSci Council. “I’m glad for the St. Louis community that its premiere ensemble is performing and contributing to the arts in the city once again.”
ArtSci Council has already scheduled outings to the symphony for April 2 and April 30. For information about tickets, students can e-mail the ArtSci Council at [email protected].