The musicians of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra are currently in negotiations with San Francisco Opera Management for a new contract.
San Francisco Opera Management recently proposed a 5 year contract to the orchestra that would "restructure the orchestra's compensation while keeping musicians' annual earnings at current levels during that period."
The orchestra is asking for a fair contract that gives the musicians stability and pay that keeps pace with the cost of living in San Francisco as well as a working partnership with management to reverse the pattern of cuts to productions and performances at the San Francisco Opera.
The 5 year contract proposed by management does not meet the needs of the orchestra due to structural cuts that are defined in their proposal: with an increasing number of work weeks cut for the orchestra as the 5 year contract progresses.
This proposal by management including definite work cuts does not meet the orchestra's ambitions to continue its mission of bringing opera performances to the San Francisco public and opera-loving visitors who travel to the city.
The proposal by management also does not meet the needs of the orchestra with regards to compensation. During previous orchestra contract negotiations including during the Covid pandemic, the orchestra made concessions to management and has repeatedly accepted lesser compensation over time compared to other orchestras in the United States.
This latest proposal does not take into account inflation and cost of living in the area and is essentially a pay cut over the course of five years for the orchestra musicians.
Data taken from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm )
Inflation Trends in San Francisco - Oakland - Hayward
Consumer Price Index - All Items
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metropolitan area provides a key measure of inflation. This data reflects changes in the cost of a basket of goods and services typically purchased by urban households.
Local Inflation Statistics over time:
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5-Year Change: The cost of living has increased by +19.5% over the past five years.
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Average Annual Change: On average, inflation has been +3.9% per year.
The data indicates a significant increase in the cost of living over the last five years, with an average annual inflation rate of nearly 4%.
These figures highlight the growing expense of everyday goods and services in the San Francisco Bay Area, which can impact household budgets, purchasing power, and overall economic stability.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm )