
But news that the musicians ratified a new 3-year contract today that includes modest annual wage increases of 2% a year provides the strongest evidence yet of just how much the culture has changed at Orchestra Hall since a six-month strike in 2010-11 nearly destroyed the institution.
The deal, which will raise minimum salaries to nearly $88,000 in year three, comes a full eight months before the current contract expires and with none of the public posturing and partisan rancor accompanying the 2010 meltdown.