SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

NEW YORK – The musicians of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, represented by the NYC musicians’ union (AFM Local 802), have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, as they continue to negotiate with ballet management for a fair contract. A strike authorization vote means that musicians may choose to strike if contract talks break down.

AFM President Tino Gagliardi, who is leading the negotiations on behalf of the union, said: “These hardworking musicians bring the magic of live music to the most celebrated dancers, night after night. They are cultural ambassadors who help make New York City the artistic capital of the world. They deserve a contract that allows them to work with dignity and enjoy affordable healthcare for themselves and their family. Instead, they are not being offered the wages and benefits they deserve and are instead being asked to make financial concessions once again. This is insulting and unacceptable, and musicians are fighting back.”

Local 802 President Sara Cutler, who represents the musicians of the New York Ballet Orchestra, said: “We urge the ballet to do the right thing and offer a fair proposal to its musicians that makes up for the sacrifices they were forced to endure during the pandemic, as well as staggering inflation. We’ll do everything in our power to assist these courageous musicians in their fight for the dignity and respect they deserve.” 

FACTS ABOUT THE DISPUTE

• The New York City Ballet orchestra musicians’ contract expired on August 31, 2023.
• During the pandemic, ballet management didn’t pay its musicians for over a year, from June 2020 to September 2021.
• Afterwards, management imposed a 15 percent wage cut on the orchestra, at the musicians’ most vulnerable moment.
• During this same time period, the NYC Ballet had an endowment that was worth $263 million
• The ballet’s fundraising efforts have been robust and ticket sales have now exceeded 100 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
• The ballet received more than $10 million in government support during the pandemic
• Other orchestras found a way to sustain their musicians, through the pandemic and beyond. The musicians of the New York Philharmonic won full pay restoration last year. The Boston Symphony musicians recently won wage increases of 14 percent in year one of their contract. The San Francisco Ballet musicians won wage increases of 10 percent in year one of their contract. Musicians of the New York City Ballet are asking why its own management can’t propose a fair contract.
• Ballet orchestra musicians are already being paid 9.3 percent less than in 2019. With more than 15 percent inflation, their purchasing power is 23 percent less than in 2019.
• A fair proposal to musicians would cost only a fraction of the ballet’s operating budget. Yet ballet management refuses to be transparent with financial and healthcare information to justify its insulting offer to orchestra musicians.
• Musicians and their families have suffered tremendous hardship as a result of this double hit of staggering inflation and the substantial pay cut that management imposed.
• Musicians are asking the public to sign their public petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/nycballet/ 

ABOUT LOCAL 802

Local 802 represents thousands of highly skilled musicians who drive New York City’s thriving cultural and tourism economy. Its members — who perform on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and Radio City, in recording studios, as teaching artists, on late-night TV shows and in other televised bands, in hotels, clubs, festivals and venues across NYC — are protected by collective bargaining agreements ensuring proper classification, fair treatment and a living wage.

FOR MORE BACKGROUND ON LOCAL 802, CLICK HERE