Displeased Opera Management Signs Contract With Musicians

The San Diego Opera announced on Thursday the signing of a two-year contract with the American Federation of Musicians, Local 325, which represents the opera’s orchestra.

The negotiations, which began in November, had been acrimonious until earlier this month, when orchestra members agreed to open the 1992 season without a contract. The previous contract expired in August.

In a press release, opera general director Ian Campbell said the company agreed to the union’s terms reluctantly.

“We had to agree to many onerous demands that infringe upon fundamental artistic and management prerogatives in order to save the 1992 and 1993 seasons from a threatened strike,” he said.

In a telephone interview, opera attorney David Wolds claimed the new contract will give the musicians a 25% increase in compensation over two years, although orchestra spokesman Glen Campbell disagreed.

“Our hourly compensation will increase 6.9% the first year and 4.75% the second,” Glen Campbell explained, “although for the first time the opera will contribute to a pension plan 4% of each player’s gross salary. We will also receive a lump sum payment” so that individuals can pay for their own health insurance.

In order to allow members of the opera orchestra to play in the San Diego Symphony, the opera will be required to submit a schedule of rehearsals and performances two years in advance, a concession that Wolds described as a serious hampering of management prerogatives.

The opera orchestra size also will be fixed at 54, with all members paid regardless of the size orchestra required for a particular opera. Glen Campbell claimed this brings the local opera company into line with national standards for opera orchestras, although the company’s press release described the requirement as “featherbedding.”