Musicians’ strike over in Houston

Houston Symphony musicians ended their 23-day strike against the financially troubled orchestra on Tuesday, accepting a new four-year contract that will mean pay cuts for the first three years. Staffing will drop by attrition under the contract, from 97 players to as few as 90.

Minimum pay scales will rise from the current $1,425 a week to $1,540 over the life of the contract, said tuba player Dave Kirk, chairman of the orchestra musicians’ association, but the musicians agreed to unpaid annual furloughs of two and three weeks that will decrease their overall income until the final year of the deal.

Art Kent, spokesman for the symphony, said the contract allows for about $1 million in savings on salary this season. (The orchestra already had cut its performance schedule by nine concerts to save money.)

He said the symphony still expects to run a $3-million deficit on this year’s $22.5-million budget.