Philadelphia Orchestra musicians reach agreement, end strike

Philadelphia Orchestra musicians and its leadership have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract that includes salary increases each year.

The Philadelphia Orchestra Association announced the agreement Sunday.

Musicians had staged a walkout Friday night, cancelling an opening night performance that about 1,000 had come to hear. They said they hoped to reverse what they called “the shameful decline of our treasured institution.”

Officials say new terms include a salary increase of 2 per cent in the first year and 2.5 per cent in each of the next two years. That would bring the musicians’ base pay to $137,800 in the third year.

Additional compensation can also be made tied to the orchestra’s financial success.

The board will vote on the contract Tuesday.

Musicians met to ratify the agreement earlier Sunday.