S.F. Opera musicians’ pay cut 50%
Members of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra will take a 50% pay cut for the fall season under the terms of a contract modification signed Sept. 18.
The agreement between the Opera and orchestra musicians, represented by the American Federation of Musicians, Local 6, runs retroactively from August through July 31, 2023. It continues health coverage for the musicians throughout the current period, when performances have been canceled because of the COVID19 pandemic, with gradual pay increases during the final two years of the contract.
The terms of the contract will also allow the administration to leave key orchestral positions vacant up to seven years.
“San Francisco Opera is profoundly grateful to the Orchestra for its partnership in facing this pandemic, as we look to maintain the artistic health of (the company) and meet the challenges and creative opportunities ahead,” S.F. Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said in a statement.
Yet percussionist Patti Niemi, speaking on behalf of the orchestra musicians, said the players faced a grim choice between ratifying the agreement and losing their income and health benefits entirely.
“We had been hoping to collaborate and come up with a COVIDyear agreement that would cover just the time period when we’re not performing,” she told The Chronicle in a phone interview. “But suddenly there was this pivot to issues like the orchestral vacancies that are unrelated to COVID.”
Niemi added that the orchestra also objected to a contract provision that would restore the salary cuts if ticket sales rebound in 202223. “Ticket sales is not something we have any input on. That’s completely out of our hands.”
The San Francisco Opera is one of many arts organizations facing a loss of revenue and performance opportunities because of the pandemic. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Metropolitan Opera, the largest classical music organization in the country, announced the cancellation of its entire 202021 season.
The San Francisco Symphony, which has canceled its planned performances through the end of 2020, is still in the midst of negotiations between management and musicians and would not divulge any details, according to Symphony spokeswoman Robin Freeman.