Minnesota Orchestra musicians agree to salary cuts

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra have agreed to salary cuts for the rest of their current contract as the orchestra deals with the struggling economy.

The changes will save about $4.2 million over the remaining three years of the five-year contract, which expires Sept. 30, 2012.

The musicians agreed to salary cuts totaling $1.8 million, including a wage freeze in fiscal 2010. They also agreed to a delay in filling open positions with the orchestra. That will save about $1.8 million over the next three years.

In addition, the musicians agreed to allow the orchestra to reduce its pension funding obligation, for a savings of $600,000.

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Orchestra announced staff and budget cuts that saved $2.3 million for the 2009-2010 budget.

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