The Strike Imperils the Orchestra’s Season Opening Gala Concert on Saturday Evening

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2024 — For the first time in 46 years, the 90+ musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) have gone on strike against their employer, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Negotiations have been ongoing since May, but the two sides remain far apart on wages and other crucial issues.

The musicians, represented by their union, the DC Federation of Musicians, Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians, have put forward a reasonable proposal for wage increases averaging around 6.25 percent per year over the next four years. These proposed increases acknowledge that the musicians have experienced a pay decrease of about 15 percent (adjusted for inflation) since the start of their last contract, which began in September 2019 and expired earlier this month. The 15-percent decline in real wages doesn’t even take into account the fact that each NSO musician voluntarily reduced their salary by at least $60,000 during the pandemic.

After walking off the job this morning, the musicians, clad in matching cherry-red T-shirts, established a picket line outside the Kennedy Center. In addition to the standard signs, flyers, and chants, the musicians are using their unique skills to enhance their demonstration with musical performances. The strike threatens to disrupt the musicians’ Season Opening Gala concert on Saturday evening and will continue until the Kennedy Center agrees to fair terms in a new collective bargaining agreement.

“Across the nation, we’ve seen employers agree to contracts with significant wage increases in recognition of the impact that inflation has had on employee living costs,” said Ed Malaga, President of the DC Federation of Musicians, Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians. “The music world is no different. Just a few weeks ago, the New York Philharmonic showed its commitment to fairly compensating its musicians by agreeing to wage increases of ten percent per year over three years.  The Boston Symphony negotiated a similar contract last August. The musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra are standing together and demanding that the Kennedy Center treat them with the same respect.”

This morning’s strike follows the Kennedy Center’s illegal attempt to prevent the musicians from distributing informational leaflets at the Kennedy Center entrance on Tuesday evening, an action that came after the musicians agreed to postpone their strike to avoid disrupting the week’s run of three sold-out concerts featuring Sara Bareilles. The musicians gathered outside the Kennedy Center to greet concertgoers and distribute informational leaflets about the labor dispute. These actions are fully protected by law, and the musicians had notified the Kennedy Center in advance of their intentions.  Nonetheless, within minutes the musicians were confronted by security who threatened to call the police to have them removed. The musicians, through their union, filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board the following day, then returned to distribute leaflets again before the concerts on Wednesday and Thursday.

The musicians have also taken to social media to share their message with the public, posting informational slides and musician videos at @nso_musicians on Instagram.

“It’s been inspiring to see the outpouring of support from our supporters in the DC area and across the country since we announced our unanimous vote to authorize a strike,” said Jennifer Mondie, who has played viola in the Orchestra since 1995, and who is the chair of the musicians’ bargaining committee. “We had no choice but to take this action to ensure that the National Symphony keeps pace with our peer orchestras, so that we can continue to attract and retain the best musicians in the world.”

About the Metropolitan Washington, DC Federation of Musicians, Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians

The DC Federation of Musicians, Local 161-710, American Federation of Musicians has been serving Washington-area musicians since 1901 and continues to be an effective advocate for musicians’ rights in the workplace, be that a nightclub, symphony stage, opera pit, recording studio or on tour.

SOURCE National Symphony Orchestra Musicians