(Credit: Boston Symphony Orchestra Facebook Page)

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced that its musicians ratified a new three-year labor agreement that went into effect on August 24, 2020.

The musicians have agreed to cut their salaries in response to the major financial losses due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The terms of the agreement include compensation reduction averaging 37 percent in the first year of the contract, which will be followed with increases in compensation as the BSO redevelops a sustainable revenue scheme; the establishment of the BSO Resident Fellowship Program, starting in fall 2021; the addition of four BSO Sunday-afternoon concerts into the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons; and expansion of official BSO services, to include concerts, rehearsals, and digital online performances, among others.

“The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s new labor agreement reflects our collective understanding of the major challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating financial losses due to the cancellation of the BSO’s performance and event schedule, March-November. By addressing these challenges on the compensation level, as well as in several other areas, the BSO’s new labor agreement acknowledges the part the musicians are playing in the overall cost-saving measures to ensure the Boston Symphony Orchestra emerges from the pandemic as a vibrant and essential institution for its loyal music community,” said BSO President and CEO Mark Volpe; Chair of the BSO Players Comittee James Markey; and President of the Boston Musicians Association Patrick Hollenbeck, in a joint statement.

“It was especially gratifying to come to an agreement on the importance of redefining official services beyond rehearsals and concerts during this time of hiatus from live performances and beyond. In a departure from the standard labor agreement subjects, management and musicians worked enthusiastically together on the creation of the BSO Resident Fellowship Program for young musicians of color—a program that we hope will inspire much needed optimism as we continue to look toward better times and toward expanding the BSO’s vision of its future offerings.”

The agreement will run through August 2023.