VILLAGE LIGHT OPERA GROUP

In spring, after difficult negotiations and federal mediation, the management of the Village Light Opera Group signed an extension agreement that maintained the minimum number of musicians at 19 for their production of “Oklahoma.” Management has been insisting on a reduction of professional musicians to 10 from 19, threatening to replace those players with amateurs. The union and an active and helpful orchestra committee have been able to keep all 19 musicians working against strong management opposition for the entire year.

“SPIDER MAN”

This production was negotiated with Alan Wasser Associates as a two-week pre-Broadway reading. The side musician scale is $1,515.75 for a 40-hour, six-day week and $42.60 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. The music director earns a 50 percent premium; the associate conductor earns a premium of 30 percent. The premium for the first double is 12.5 percent and additional doubles pay 6.25 percent. Musicians are reimbursed for transporting cartage instruments. Vacation pays 6 percent, pension is 6 percent, and health pays $110 per musician per week. There are five musicians in the production. Since it was a reading, the musicians don’t have identity with the product.

BIG APPLE PERFORMING ARTS/NEW YORK CITY GAY MEN’S CHORUS

Musicians have ratified a three-year contract that guarantee full freelance concert scale for all services.