Houston Symphony, musicians' union sign three-year contract Provisions include salary increases, more sick leave

Houston Symphony Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada during a previous performance. Houston Symphony Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada during a previous performance. Photo: Internal Photo: Internal Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Houston Symphony, musicians' union sign three-year contract 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The Houston Symphony Orchestra and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 65-699, have reached an agreement on a new, three-year contract that went into effect Oct. 7 and runs through Oct. 3, 2021.

The contract calls for a 4 per-cent raise in the 2019-2020 season followed by a 4.1 per-cent increase in salary in the 2020-2021 season. There is no raise for the current season where the musicians' base salary is $97,940 per year.

The agreement also offers musicians who are new parents an additional two weeks of available sick leave during the first six months following their child's birth or adoption.

"I want to thank the Musicians of the Houston Symphony for their constructive partnership over the course of these negotiations," said Houston Symphony Orchestra executive director/CEO John Mangum in a release. "I think we have a great outcome for all involved, with an agreement that takes into account the challenges we continue to face in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, but that also reaffirms our commitment to be one of America's leading orchestras."

"We were able to achieve an agreement that propels the HSO forward to become one of the leading orchestras of the A.F.M.," echoed Lovie Smith-Wright, president of Local 65-699, in the same release.

The Houston Symphony Orchestra, with an annual operating budget of $33.9 million, is in its fifth season with music director Andres Orozco-Estrada.