25-06-2025
A change in tenor: Springfield Symphony, union announce labor contract
SPRINGFIELD — Finally on the same page of music after years of labor strife, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Local 171 of the American Federation of Musicians have reached a new two-year collective bargaining agreement.
The new contract starts in the upcoming 2025-26 season and extends through the 2026-27 season, the union and the orchestra said in a joint statement Monday. The deal calls for a minimum of eight symphonic concerts and an education concert in the upcoming seasons.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is the largest Massachusetts symphony outside of Boston.
The new contract for the 67-member orchestra does include pay increases over each of the two years. The union and management declined to specify the increase.
The announcement this year had a different tone from the last contract negotiations. The orchestra and its union reached a two-year deal in 2023 only after three years of negotiations, complaints to the National Labor Relations Board and the intervention of Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.
The musicians also formed an independent orchestra, called the Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, at one point.
Paul Lambert came in as president and CEO of the orchestra in February of 2023, toward the end of protracted negotiations.
He noted the change in tenor.
'We work together very closely,' Lambert said. 'We've worked hard to build trust. We've worked very hard to try and include everybody'
Beth Welty, president of Local 171, said the agreement is a positive step.
'We look forward to continuing to work with Paul Lambert, the staff and the board toward the goal of expanding the orchestra's outreach and service to all of Western Massachusetts.'
Lambert, in an interview, said that while the contract has called for a minimum of eight performances for a few years now, the orchestra typically does 10 to 12, depending on funding.
'We try all the time to find ways to bring in new audiences,' said Lambert, who formerly was an executive at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 'New, younger, diverse audiences.'
Over the past two years, that's meant featuring the Latin jazz ensemble the Mambo Kings; 'Bugs Bunny at the Symphony'; annual MLK Jr. celebration concerts; and the Fearless Women Awards, honoring local women leaders in the community.
'Just be flexible,' Lambert said of the house ethos.
The orchestra hosted its third Juneteenth concerts — concerts that are free to attend for the community.
The orchestra played its second youth education concert of the last few years. And it hosted 2,000 fourth graders in March at Symphony Hall.
'Great fun for all concerned,' Lambert said.
Two quintets — winds and brass — from the Springfield Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Forest Park Amphitheater in Springfield on Sept. 18 as part of the city's free concert and movie series.
Lambert said he's grateful to the city and the Parks Department for reaching out. The concerts will be similar to ones the orchestra performed two years ago that The Big E.
Musicians in the Springfield Symphony orchestra are part-time with the orchestra and paid according to the number of their performances.
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