The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Ratifies Two-Year Contract Extension

• Extension ratified unanimously by orchestra members, SPCO Board of Directors and Board of American Federation of Musicians Local 30-73
• Agreement extends terms of current contract through June 2024
• Extension ratified 15 months before current contract was set to expire

The musicians of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the board of the American Federation of Musicians Local 30-73, and the SPCO Board of Directors have voted unanimously to ratify a two-year contract extension, 15 months before the current collective bargaining agreement was set to expire on June 30, 2022. The two-year extension will become effective July 1, 2022, extending the expiration date to June 30, 2024.

Musician base compensation will increase by 2% in fiscal year 2022, the final year of the current contract, and the extension will maintain that level of compensation for an additional two years. All other terms and conditions of the current contract remain unchanged in the extension, as well.

“This extension agreement reflects the fact that the SPCO musicians, management and board are unified and 100 percent focused on getting to the other side of this crisis in a strong position and poised to pursue our vision of a great orchestra for everyone in the community.”

—Jon Limbacher, SPCO Managing Director and President

Upon the onset of the COVID pandemic in March 2020, the SPCO’s senior leadership and Board of Directors established three core objectives for navigating the crisis: maintaining the financial health and sustainability of the organization, maintaining employment and compensation for staff and musicians, and adding as much value as possible to the community by sharing music in a safe and responsible manner. One year into the pandemic, the organization has been able to fulfill these core objectives — achieving a small budget surplus in its most recent fiscal year, maintaining employment and compensation for its musicians and staff, and continuing to share music with the community via 31 livestreams and encore broadcasts in its free online Concert Library.

“We know that there will be some challenging years ahead, but we remain committed to the core objectives we established at the beginning of the pandemic. This extension agreement reflects the fact that the SPCO musicians, management and board are unified and 100 percent focused on getting to the other side of this crisis in a strong position and poised to pursue our vision of a great orchestra for everyone in the community,” said SPCO Managing Director and President Jon Limbacher. “This crisis has demonstrated the mettle of the organization and the community’s tremendous commitment to the SPCO.”

“By unanimously approving this contract extension, the SPCO musicians join the management and board in solidarity as our organization navigates the challenges of the pandemic and recovery together.”

—Lynn Erickson, SPCO trumpet player and Orchestra Committe chair

“By unanimously approving this contract extension, the SPCO musicians join the management and board in solidarity as our organization navigates the challenges of the pandemic and recovery together,” said SPCO trumpet player and Orchestra Committee chair Lynn Erickson. “We are committed to working together to ensure that we can continue to share music with our community for many years to come.”

“The extraordinary musicians of the SPCO and their union representatives share with the entire SPCO community a unified objective — to assure that this inspiring organization continues to thrive. This agreement is wholeheartedly supported by all and serves that essential purpose,” said Brad Eggen, President of the Twin Cities Musicians Union, AFM Local 30-73.