Fort Worth Symphony, musicians reach contract settlement

The symphony at work

Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and symphony management have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The agreement was announced Thursday in separate news releases by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association and Local 72-147 of the American Federation of Musicians, which represents the symphony’s musicians.

The union has scheduled a ratification vote for Sunday. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Leadership of the FWSOA and the musicians’ Negotiating Committee have negotiated in good faith for 14 months,’’ the symphony said in its release. “This resolution was reached after four days of sessions with a federal mediator.”

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The union’s new release said the agreement followed “14 months of nearly continuous talks and 4 days in mediation.”

The talks began after orchestra management proposed cutting musicians’ compensation by about 8 percent. Musicians voted to authorize a strike in January but decided not to strike after management agreed to negotiate a new agreement.