A little suspense music: San Francisco Symphony musicians have threatened to strike this week if there’s no progress in contract talks. On the table so far from management: a wage freeze, and cuts in health care and pension benefits. From Cy Musiker at KQED’s News Fix blog:
Symphony Executive Director Brent Assink would not discuss the details of the contract, but he said that musicians received about a 4 percent raise each of the last four years.
San Francisco Symphony musicians earn an average salary of $165,000, according to a press release from the symphony, with the median salary closer to $140,000. Musicians also get 10 weeks of paid vacation, paid sick leave, health care with no monthly contribution for members, and a pension, the press release said.