Contract

AZOOMA, the Arizona Opera and American Federation of Musicians Local 586 engage in contract negotiations every 3  years. This is typical for most professional orchestras – there are timed contracts that need periodic re-approval. The negotiations held between the orchestra and the management determine working conditions and wages, among other things.

Current contract

AZOOMA currently has a long-term commitment through the 2011-2012 season with Arizona Opera. It is a three-year agreement with a side letter that includes two additional years of “right of first refusal.”  The AZOOMA Negotiating Committee worked for about 17 months in order to reach this settlement.

The standing agreement includes a wage-freeze for two years and a very modest wage increase in the third year in the face of the opera’s financial difficulties.

Related material:

• National Labor Relations Act
• “A Marathon Negotiation in Phoenix” by consultant Drew McManus.