Now that three freelance orchestras have agreed to the same three-year economic package, and others have indicated that they’ll do the same, these economics have been promulgated by the Executive Board as the new single engagement classical wage scale.

On March 21, the Little Orchestra Society signed a new memorandum of agreement with Local 802. As Allegro went to press, the union’s Executive Board had approved the deal, which now goes to the musicians for ratification.

The memorandum of agreement includes the same economics as the New York Pops and the Opera Orchestra of New York. Little Orchestra Society’s new agreement is retroactive to Sept. 12, 2004, and concludes on Sept. 11, 2007.

In addition to economics, there are new clauses that address late scheduling changes and rehearsal releases. There is also a new provision requiring that tenured violinists be hired before any non-tenured violinists. Another provision ensures that musicians will receive appropriate break time.

Along with the other freelance agreements, this employer’s commitment to live music is memorialized in a virtual orchestra machine ban.

Melanie Bradford, Mike Gillette, Howard Hall, Susan Jolles, Susan Panny, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, his assistant Frances McDonald, Concert Rep Jacob Heyman-Kantor and legal counsel Leonard Leibowitz served on the union’s negotiating committee.