Musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra to Strike Over Contract Negotiations

The NSO musicians have requested a pay increase of 25%, which the Center and the orchestra's management describe as "not financially viable"

The musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) have voted to strike following the most recent round of contract negotiations between the players and the orchestra's management.

These negotiations have now been proceeding for months. In the most recent round, the Kennedy Center and the NSO's management offered a package that contained a 12% increase in income across a four-year period, as well as further health insurance benefits and the addition of paid parental leave. If this contract had been ratified, the base salary for an NSO player would have been $178,840.

The NSO's musicians then rejected the offer on the grounds that they earn significantly less than their colleagues in comparable orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In a press release, the players also argued that the combination of lower pay and the high cost of living in D.C. means that the NSO finds it hard to attract and retain the nation's best players. The NSO musicians have requested a pay increase of 25%.

In contrast, the New York Philharmonic recently offered their players a 30% increase in pay over three years, with its President Deborah Borda describing the move as "a restorative settlement that brings our musicians to the level of their peer orchestras." A similar increase has been offered at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, partially to compensate for a lack of wage increases during the pandemic.

"As our national center for the performing arts, the Kennedy Center should be a leader among arts institutions in fairly compensating its artists," said Ed Malaga, President of AFM Local 161-710 (Washington D.C. Federation of Musicians). "Instead, the Kennedy Center has made proposals that are far out of step with other orchestras throughout the country. It is disheartening to see that the Kennedy Center is unwilling to recognize the value of the world-class orchestra these musicians have built and to compensate them in the manner they deserve."

The Kennedy Center released a statement that it "remains hopeful that both parties can resume good-faith negotiations as soon as possible towards a fair contract that will enable the institution to shape its future in a way that is both responsibly and economically sustainable."

"The musicians’ demand for a 25% wage increase is not financially viable. While the Center’s current proposal calls for fair wage increases each year, the musicians appear intent to restore wages lost as a result of the pandemic (2020-2021)," it adds. "During the pandemic, the NSO musicians received 65% of their contractual salary during an 18-month closure. Unable to mount performances during the closure, the Center had zero earned ticket income. All Center and NSO employees making a minimum of $75,000 also absorbed pay cuts ranging from 10% to 100% during the Center’s shutdown. To date, no employee at the Kennedy Center or NSO has recouped lost wages. Like many arts organizations who rely on earned income, the Center and the Orchestra were forced to rebuild audiences over the last three years. The financial package offered to the musicians fits within the financial realities projected through 2028.

"The NSO musicians play a vital role in the artistic success of the Kennedy Center and positively impact our communities. Our enormous respect for their craft and artistic contributions are reflected in both their compensation and in the spirit in which the Center has approached these negotiations."