Less Money, Less Music In Milwaukee

The musicians of the Milwaukee Symphony have ratified a new contract which will reduce their annual salaries by 9%, eliminate two full-time positions in the orchestra, and cut the ensemble’s season by four weeks. “A player making the minimum will see his or her salary fall from $59,125 to $53,625. Paid vacation drops from six weeks to five, and the players’ contribution to health insurance is likely to rise under a formula linking it to insurance costs.” Despite the concessions, the musicians ratified the deal willingly if not happily, which may have something to do with an unusual provision requiring members of the orchestra’s upper management team to take the same 9% wage cut as the players.