Local 802 and St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble have reached a tentative agreement. What sets this agreement apart from other freelance orchestras is that St. Luke’s has agreed to an additional fourth year. Wages are effective and retroactive to Sept. 8, 2004. The contract expires on Sept. 7, 2008. The economics of the contract mirror what has become the standard for the freelance field, maintaining a level playing field. However, an additional fourth year has been added with economics that extend beyond the other freelance orchestras. This fourth year may establish the starting point for the next freelance negotiations.

Stewart Rose, a French hornist in the orchestra, agreed. “I think the most significant fact about this contract is that it’s a four-year agreement that parallels the rest of the freelance industry for the first three years, and then in the fourth year sets a very good starting point for the negotiations of the rest of the freelance contract,” Rose told Allegro. “Our fourth year comes in at about a 5 percent wage increase, which I think is pretty good for these times, and I think it sets the standard for the next round of negotiations in the rest of the freelance community.”

Rose is a member of the Orchestra Committee and served on the negotiations.

Contributions to the Local 802 health benefits plan will be made for all musicians on a per service basis. At the end of a contract year, any ensemble players who have accepted at least 25 percent of the work offered to them will be guaranteed Plan A coverage for the following year. During such year, only the minimum contribution for Plan A coverage will be required. The management has also agreed to meet with a joint committee of musicians and other orchestra managers to discuss catastrophic health insurance.

Additional gains were also made in other areas. Any musician not appearing on Appendix A or B playing on the first stand of Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello or Bass but not acting as principal will be entitled to 35 percent additional pay over base scale.

Continuo musicians (cello, double bass and harpsichord only) performing in secco recitative, aria or arioso in which the continuo musicians are the sole instrumental support for the soloist or soloists will receive an additional 25 percent additional scale.

The agreement includes clarifications of sick pay rules and procedures, chamber music rehearsal procedures and the lateness policy.

The employer has also agreed to use only live musicians for all its productions, performances and rehearsals and has agreed to Local 802’s virtual orchestra machine ban. In addition, the employer will file contract information electronically.

The St. Luke’s agreement has been approved by 802’s Executive Board subject to ratification by the musicians.

Orchestra committee members Stewart Rose, Joseph Anderer, Daire Fitzgerald, Mike Powell, Ron Carbone, Vice President Blumenthal, Concert Representative Jacob Heyman-Kantor, Assistant to the Financial Vice President Frances McDonald and Local 802 Counsel Leonard Leibowitz comprised the union’s negotiating team.