The musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) have voted to strike following prolonged contract negotiations between the orchestra’s players and management.
Negotiations have been ongoing for several months. In the latest offer, the Kennedy Center and NSO management proposed a 12% pay increase over four years, along with enhanced health insurance benefits and the introduction of paid parental leave. Had this agreement been accepted, the base salary for an NSO musician would have reached $178,840.
However, the musicians rejected the offer, citing that their salaries lag behind those of players in comparable orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Los Angeles Philharmonic.
In a public statement, the musicians argued that lower wages, combined with the high cost of living in Washington, D.C., make it difficult for the NSO to attract and retain top talent. The musicians are seeking a 25% pay increase.
For comparison, the New York Philharmonic recently offered its musicians a 30% pay raise over three years. The Philharmonic’s President, Deborah Borda, referred to the increase as “a restorative settlement that brings our musicians to the level of their peer orchestras.” Similarly, the Boston Symphony Orchestra proposed significant wage increases, in part to compensate for pay stagnation during the pandemic.
“As the nation’s center for performing arts, the Kennedy Center should set an example by fairly compensating its artists,” said Ed Malaga, President of AFM Local 161-710, which represents the NSO musicians. “Instead, the Kennedy Center’s proposals fall significantly behind other major orchestras in the U.S. It is disheartening to see the Kennedy Center fail to recognize the value of the world-class orchestra these musicians have built and to compensate them accordingly.”
In response, the Kennedy Center issued a statement expressing hope that both sides can return to negotiations in good faith to reach a fair agreement. The Center emphasized the need for an economically sustainable contract and stated that the musicians’ demand for a 25% wage increase is not financially feasible.
The Center’s statement further noted that, during the pandemic, NSO musicians received 65% of their salaries over an 18-month shutdown period when no performances could take place. All employees earning over $75,000, including NSO musicians, took pay cuts ranging from 10% to 100%. According to the Kennedy Center, no staff member has recouped lost wages, and the financial realities projected through 2028 make the current offer the best available within their budget constraints.
“The NSO musicians are crucial to the artistic success of the Kennedy Center and have a positive impact on our community,” the statement continued. “We have immense respect for their craft, and this is reflected in the compensation package offered, as well as the spirit in which we have approached negotiations.”
The strike vote signals a significant escalation in the standoff, with no clear resolution in sight. The coming weeks will likely determine the future of these negotiations and the potential impact on the NSO’s upcoming performances.
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