The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players recently ratified an agreement that extends the contract until Feb. 28, 2011. In addition, an outstanding arbitration and unfair labor practice charge has been resolved.

The grievance arose when the Players appeared at the 2010 Gettysburg Gilbert and Sullivan Festival and performed with an outside orchestra hired to play for the festival rather than hiring the musicians on the NYGASP primary hiring list. The NYGASP contract with Local 802 maintains that the musicians on the list have the right of first refusal when NYGASP performs within 400 miles of Columbus Circle. Local 802 sought back pay, as the union interpreted NYGASP’s participation in the Festival without the NYGASP Orchestra to be a violation of the contract.

As part of the settlement, NYGASP agreed to pay the orchestra a portion of the compensation they would have received for two overnight performances and one 30 minute sound check. The 17 musicians on the primary hiring list will be paid in two installments: the first to be made upon complete execution of the agreement, the second one to be made on or before April 15, 2011.

The NYGASP committee is Steve Shulman, Chair, Deb Spohnheimer, Nancy Ranger and Robert Lawrence.