WASHINGTON — The music of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) could soon fall silent if contract talks break down, leaving the Kennedy Center stage empty. Currently, the Kennedy Center and NSO musicians are at a critical standoff as they navigate complex labor negotiations.
After months of back-and-forth, the Kennedy Center has made a new, four-year contract offer to its NSO musicians. The deal includes a 12% pay increase over the next four years, improved healthcare options, paid parental leave, and even a new full-time librarian position. They’re also streamlining the audition and tenure processes.
The Kennedy Center says this contract would bump up the minimum base salary to $178,840 annually, with the average musician taking home about $209,325—making them some of the highest-paid orchestra members in the country, just behind the orchestras in cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
Despite this, there’s still tension in the air. The musicians are pushing for a 25% wage increase, citing losses they experienced during the pandemic when the NSO was benched, and they only received 65% of their salary.
Meanwhile, The Kennedy Center is arguing that the new proposal is generous and is possible with the money they have. Like many cultural institutions, they say they were hit hard by the pandemic. Every employee, including the musicians, took a pay cut. So, while the orchestra’s demands for pandemic payback are understandable, the Kennedy Center says it’s not financially feasible.
So, what’s next? The musicians have voted to authorize a strike. If a strike moves forward this week, it would impact three scheduled concerts, including Sara Bareilles and this Saturday’s Season Opening Gala Concert.
In a response from the union representing the NSO they said they are asking for a 6.25% raise each year over the next four years. The Kennedy Center is only proposing a wage increase of 3% per year over the next four years.
The Union believes that given its "cemented reputation as one the premier orchestras in the United States" the Kennedy Center's offer would "lock in a nearly decade-long decline in real wages of musicians in the orchestra."
The union also cited the New York Philharmonic's agreement to pay musicians an average of 11% per year over the next three years, with a 15% increase in the first year. The Boston Symphony agreed to a similar deal in 2023.
As of Sept. 23, the NSO musicians are the lowest paid compared to the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony, according to the NSO Union. Couple that with the high cost of living in D.C. it makes it harder for the NSO to attract and retain talent.
“As our national center for the performing arts, the Kennedy Center should be a leader among arts institutions in fairly compensating its artists,” said Ed Malaga, President of the DC Federation of Musicians, Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians. “Instead, the Kennedy Center has made proposals that are far out of step with other orchestras throughout the country. It is disheartening to see that the Kennedy Center is unwilling to recognize the value of the world-class orchestra these musicians have built and to compensate them in the manner they deserve.”
While both sides say they’re hopeful for a resolution, the clock is ticking.
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