Musicians, Teachers Make Contract Agreements

By Rachelle Bowden in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 8, 2004 12:35PM

Both the Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians and the City College teachers have made contract agreements. On Saturday, CSO musicans ended the threat of a strike by signing a 3-year contract that increases their base pay to $2,000 weekly or $104,000 anually with raises starting in September and continuing every 6 months. Musicians are going to have to pay for their own health-insurance, but gee.. with that kind of cash we're thinking it won't be a problem.

As for the City College teachers, the union ended a 3-week strike on Saturday and classes are back on today for 60,000 students. We're sure those students are like totally psyched. They're going to be so screwed because administrators have not decided how to make up the 3 weeks. Classes in the fall semester may be extended into January or they may try to make up all of the classes before Christmas. Either way, doesn't sound fun. The contract gives teachers a 4% pay increase each year for the next 4 years. It's less than the union had sought, but they'll also be getting about $750/year for health insurance.