Orchestra, musicians praise 5-year contract

Saturday night's Minnesota Orchestra concert marked not only a new season, but also a new deal on wages and benefits for the 98 musicians.

A five-year agreement was approved late Friday, capping a week of negotiations since the old contract expired.

Details of the agreement will not be released until Monday, after the contract is finalized, said Gwen Pappas, the orchestra's director of public relations.

But representatives of both sides proclaimed themselves pleased with the outcome Saturday. "It's a package that the board feels is fair and generous, and the musicians are happy because of it," Pappas said.

Violist Sam Bergman said, "I'm thrilled. Both sides came together, and it puts us back on the road to where we need to be."

The musicians, who are represented by the Twin Cities Musicians Union Local 30-73, previously had a three-year deal with orchestra management that expired Sept. 30. That pact froze salaries in the first year, 2004, then increased them gradually to the current level of $1,827 per week, or $95,000 annually. After that contract expired, negotiations continued under a five-day extension that was set to expire Friday night.

The new contract includes pay increases that will bring the musicians closer to their goal of a pay scale "in the top echelon of American orchestras," said flutist Wendy Williams, chairperson of the Minnesota Orchestra Members Committee. "We are pleased that the contract reflects the orchestra's standing as one of the best in the country."

The new contract will help the orchestra continue to attract and retain the finest musicians, she said.

"Keeping pace with our peer orchestras nationally is an artistic issue for us," said cellist Marcia Peck. "We've had a lot of catch-up to do. We think this is a great first step to closing the gap."

The negotiations came at a time in which the orchestra has no chief administrative officer. Tony Woodcock, president, left the organization last winter, and new president Michael Henson does not arrive until February. Negotiations were handled by a committee from the board of directors. Under Woodcock, the orchestra pressed to erase operating deficits and a $4.5 million debt. The board has stated a directive to balance the budget by December.

"We have a three-year plan to break even, and we're confident we're going to achieve that," Paul Grangaard, orchestra board chairman, said Saturday.

The contract agreement with the musicians is "excellent news for all involved, a happy outcome for a great institution," he said. "The orchestra is in a golden era under [music director] Osmo Vänskä's leadership. We're very pleased to have a five-year contract so we can focus on our aspirations for the orchestra without distraction."

Staff writers Graydon Royce and Joy Powell contributed to this report. Kim Palmer • 612-673-4784

Kim Palmer • kpalmer@startribune.com