Jazz musicians have muscle! Musicians in the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestras have ratified a new five-year contract. The agreement covers both the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (LCJO) and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO).

This year’s negotiations proved that musicians win at the bargaining table when they are a collective, vocal presence. Despite the busy schedules of many orchestra members, their participation at negotiations was strong from start to finish.

The prior agreement expired on Feb. 23 and a tentative agreement was reached on March 20. This speedy and successful bargaining is a direct result of a strong bargaining committee stacked with ALJO and LCJO members who were vocal about the lack of and need for stronger health benefits and increases in wages and pension.

The process was certainly not painless. Bargaining sessions – although few – were long and intense. The fruit of the committee’s labor materialized not only in the form of increases in wages, health care and pension, but new ground was broken too. Per diem was secured for the ALJO during out of town performances. Per diem is a huge gain for the ALJO because they traveled and performed without per diem under the previous agreement.

Those who participated in bargaining included Jimmy Delgado, Vincent Gardner, Wycliffe Gordon, Carlos Henriquez, Ali Jackson, Erica Von Kleist, Ted Nash, Joe Temperly and Michael Rodriquez.

Also on the team were Recording Vice President Bill Dennison; attorneys Robert Archer, Harvey Mars and Marty Glennon; Bob Cranshaw, consultant to 802’s Jazz Department and a member of the Jazz Advisory Committee; and myself.

APOLLO THEATRE

Ray Chew and the Crew, the musicians for “Amateur Night at the Apollo,” unanimously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The contract covers the period of Jan. 1, 2006 through Dec. 31, 2008. The new agreement includes the following wage increases: 3 percent in 2006, 3.5 percent in 2007 and 3.5 percent in 2008. The pension contribution will increase to 10 percent (from 8 percent) over the life of the agreement. An important new payment for doubling was also negotiated into the contract – 8 percent for the first double and 4 percent for each additional. This is a notable gain because each musician doubles at some point during the show. The negotiating committee included Ray Chew, Ralph Rolle and Russell Graham. Also serving on the committee were Bill Dennison, Bob Cranshaw and myself.