Toledo Symphony Ratifies New Five-Year Contract

The players will receive a 39% increase over the course of the new agreement

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and the Local 15-286 of the American Federation of Musicians have successfully ratified a new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will run until the end of the 2028/29 season.

Throughout the agreement, the musicians will receive a pay increase of 39% and an increase in matching contributions to their 403b retirement plans. The TSO has never before offered a pay rise of this scale to its players.

In addition, two new core string positions have been established, and several positions that were previously part-time have become full-time roles — including that of the orchestra's Principal Librarian.

Changes to tenure processes mean that the length of the evaluation period has been standardized, and greater transparency into the review process will be provided. There have also been updates to the guidelines on personal and sick leave, and paid parental leave has been increased.

"There were three key goals for this negotiation," said Vanessa Gardner, Vice President and General Manager as well as lead negotiator for management. "Both the Orchestra Committee and Management came to the table with the goal of significantly increasing musician compensation. Second, was to standardize per-service rates across salary tiers for a more equitable and industry-standard structure."

"And lastly, it was our mutual goal to modernize the agreement overall, including clarifying language, creating working conditions that are a benefit to both the musicians and the organization at large, and structuring the document itself in a clearer and easier to understand manner."

"We are proud of the collaborative spirit that defined these negotiations," said Casey Gsell, TSO Principal Bassoon and Chair of the Orchestra Committee. "This agreement not only provides significant financial improvements for our members but also enhances our role in the community, supports education, and ensures equitable treatment of our musicians. It is a true testament to what we can achieve when we work together."