Orchestra Iowa Proceeding With New Contract, With Planned Musician Pay Increases

Orchestra Iowa management and players have agreed to terms for a new two-year contract.The two groups had been in negotiations over new terms, including wages for musicians, since January and held at least 10 meetings, the most recent of which took place this past Thursday. The new contract will include a 3.3 percent wage increase for players in the first year and a 2.66 percent increase in the second year, Bruce Western, secretary for the American Federation of Musicians Local 137, told The Gazette on Monday.Orchestra musicians went public with demands for higher pay in the new contract earlier this year, with players wearing yellow ribbons and distributing flyers to attendees at a Masterworks concert.