The Quebec Symphony Orchestra has reached an agreement in principle with its musicians. Approved by 98% by the artists of the ensemble, the new collective agreement provides for a salary catch-up of 15%, retroactive since the expiry, in 2020, of the previous work agreement.
At the end of 2022, the musicians of the OSQ had publicly decried working conditions deemed disrespectful of their dedication and virtuosity, acquired after a course of more than 18 years of study.
Under the new collective agreement, an artist who joins the Quebec orchestra would earn $38,000 a year. This is an increase of nearly $5,000 compared to the $33,300 provided for in the previous salary agreement.
“We are more confident of being able to retain our musicians with changing working conditions,” explains Mélanie Forget, president of the OSQ Musicians’ Association.
The new remuneration guarantees the members of the orchestra a salary equivalent to that of their colleagues and colleagues from Les Violons du Roy, the other ensemble in Québec for which the capital is famous in terms of classical music.
“This is a bare minimum for us to have decent living conditions”, underlines the president of the association. The significant rise in the cost of living, explained Mélanie Forget to Le Devoir in December, combined with a salary that barely lifted the members of the OSQ above the poverty line, caused many to give up the ambition of one day become an owner, in addition to discouraging many from pursuing their musical career with the orchestra.
The new collective agreement, which the parties still have to ratify in the coming days, will remain in effect until June 2024. It provides in particular for the reimbursement of 100% of leave due to illness. Previously, the OSQ granted ten days at full salary, in addition to six additional days reimbursed at 50%.