NSO musicians are on strike; Saturday gala cancelled
The musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra, AFM Local 161-710, have decided to go on strike, effective Friday. It is the first time in 46 years that the 90+ musicians of the NSO have called a strike against their employer, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The parties reportedly remain far apart on wages and other important issues. The latest offer from the Kennedy Center, described by management as a competitive, 4-year growth contract, valued at $8 million, includes a new offer of a 13% wage increase. The musicians, through their union, have proposed wage increases averaging approximately 6.25 percent per year over the next four years.
The first immediate casualty of the breakdown in contract negotiations will be the NSO’s season-opening gala concert Saturday night, featuring pianist Yunchen Lam, which has been canceled. The musicians’ union had authorized a strike on Monday but opted to play three NSO Pops concerts this week while negotiations continued. After walking off the job this morning, the musicians set up a picket line outside the Kennedy Center
The musicians distributed leaflets to audience members at the entrance to the Kennedy Center before this week’s NSO Pops concert September 24. According to the union, Kennedy Center security confronted the musicians, even threatening to call the police to have them removed. After the union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board the following day, they returned to distribute leaflets at subsequent concerts.
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