Cleveland Orchestra Musicians Agree To New Contract, Ending Strike
The Cleveland Orchestra strike is over.
Both sides announced Sunday afternoon that the agreement allows the orchestra to depart for a three-week European tour. The three-year contract includes raises of 5% annually, more than recent agreements by other major orchestras, but less than the 25% that management said they’d been asked for.
Violinist Elayna Duitman, head of the negotiating committee, said she is also “happy and proud of” the new language surrounding the audition process, which will give audition committee members a say in the selection process rather than simply leaving the decision to the music director.
“Everybody on the audition committee [nominates] candidates that they feel are acceptable,” she said. “The music director [picks] who he or she would like to choose, but not picking anybody that doesn’t have approval by the majority of the audition committee.”
Negotiations began in July and the musicians’ contract expired Aug. 30. An extension to Sept. 23 was accompanied by a unanimous strike authorization. The musicians’ negotiating committee said the sides were still “far apart” when they went on strike after a performance on Sept. 24. Two further engagements were canceled and the players picketed and played a free show over the weekend.