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Bargaining Resumes
On Friday, October 18, ARTS-MSM held
its fourth bargaining session with Manhattan School of Music. Our
bargaining team consisted of NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist David
Gribben, union officers Adam Kent, Elena Belli, David Friend, Adrienne
Kim, and Karen Rostron, and 14 ARTS-MSM member-observers.
Proskauer-Rose attorney Michael Lebowich and Michael Kratochvil, an
associate from the same firm, headed MSM’s team.
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Progress
on Economics
On Thursday, ARTS-MSM sent its economic
counterproposal to MSM in which we proposed revised hourly rates for
auditions at $60, trainings at $50, and meetings at $40. We did not alter
any other portion of our initial economic proposal. MSM presented the following
restructured wage proposal:
MSM’s
New Economic Proposal
Minimum Rate:
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Academic Year
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Minimum Rate
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2024-2025
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$65.00
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2025-2026
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$75.00
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2026-2027
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$80.00
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2027-2028
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$90.00
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2028-2029
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$100.00
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General Wage
Increase:
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Academic Year
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<$80
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$80-130
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>$130
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2024-2025
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3.5%
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2.5%
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1.5%
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2025-2026
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3.0%
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3%
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2.0%
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2026-2027
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N/A
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3%
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2%
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2027-2028
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N/A
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2%
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2%
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2028-2029
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N/A
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2%
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2%
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MSM's new proposal does not address higher rates for teachers of large
ensembles and orchestras or surcharge percentages for teachers whose
students are assessed a surcharge.
It was agreed that pay increases provided for in the new contract will be
retroactive to September 1 of this year.
Progress
on Non-economics
- Close to agreements on
prescreening and facilities
- No progress on theory and
ear training class sizes
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Bargaining Update #3
Bargaining
Continues
On Tuesday August
27, ARTS-MSM held its third bargaining session with Manhattan School of Music. Our
bargaining team consisted of NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist David Gribben,
union officers Adam Kent, Elena Belli, and Karen Rostron, and 20 ARTS-MSM
member-observers. Proskauer-Rose attorney Michael Lebowich and Michael
Kratochvil, an associate from the same firm headed MSM’s team. Far
Apart on Economics
Although our current contract is set to expire on August 31,
we remain far apart in key economic areas. From our pre-bargaining survey and
ongoing communications with Precollege faculty, we understand that achieving
better pay in keeping with industry standards is a top priority.
ARTS-MSM’s
Proposals
2024-2025
Minimum Salary – ARTS-MSM Proposal:
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Studio and
classroom instructors
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$100
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Large
ensembles
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$125
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Orchestras
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$150
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One-time
hourly increase for teachers already earning $100 or more
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$5
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Rate for auditions,
trainings, and meetings
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Minimum
hourly rate
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Studio
faculty whose students are assessed a surcharge
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75% of the
surcharge on top of the minimum hourly rate
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General Annual
Wage Increases 2025 -2029: $3.00 MSM’s
Proposals Less than 24 hours before Tuesday’s session, after having
over two months to review the union’s initial proposal, MSM sent us its first
economic counterproposal. The School is proposing to establish new minima based
on seniority: $65 an hour for faculty in years 0-9 of employment; $72 for
faculty in years 10-19; $77 for years 20-29; and $82 for 30+ years. Other than
these one-time adjustments to faculty who would qualify on the basis of years
of employment, MSM is offering a flat $1 an hour increase each year of a 5-year
agreement. They also offered a minimum of $80 for conductors of large ensembles. 2024-2025
Minimum Salary – MSM Counterproposal:
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Starting
(0–9 Years)
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$65
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Ten Years
(20 Semesters)
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$72
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Twenty
Years (40 Semesters)
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$77
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Thirty
Years (60 Semesters)
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$82
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Large
Ensembles
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$80
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General Annual
Wage Increases 2025 -2029: $1.00 Far
Below Going Rates
We know how far below your private teaching rates MSM’s
proposal falls, and that it also falls well below the rates currently offered
by similar NYC programs. MSM stated that historically, they have not offered
raises of the magnitude we are asking. We responded that our concern wasn’t to
respect historical bargaining with MSM but to be paid on a par with other
schools. They acknowledged that they understood that clearly. In fact, they
basically said the only reason they’re not offering more is because they’ve
never done it before.
At present, Mannes Prep offers a minimum hourly rate of
$105, which will increase to $125 by 2026. The tuition-free MAP Program at The
Juilliard School pays studio teachers a flat $145 an hour. Both schools offer
faculty health insurance options as well.
This chart illustrates the impact of MSM’s
current proposal on Precollege faculty pay vs. pay levels at Mannes Prep over
the next three years:
Progress
on Non-economics- MSM withdrew its proposal
to cut non-sick-day absences
- Close to an agreement on
prescreening and facilities
- No progress on theory and
ear training class sizes
Bargaining Update #2
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Bargaining Continues
On Monday,
July 29th, NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist David Gribben
led a 10-person ARTS-MSM bargaining team consisting of Gribben, union
officers, and numerous ARTS-MSM member-observers. MSM’s team was
headed by Proskauer-Rose attorney Michael Lebowich and Michael
Kratochvil, an associate from the same firm.
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Wages, Pre-Screening, Class Sizes, Non-Sick-Day
Absences
ARTS-MSM
came to our initial session on June 25 with a comprehensive package
of proposals, which included several non-economic items as well as a
complete proposal regarding wages. Our economic proposals include:
- increasing minimum
hourly pay rates to $150 for orchestra conductors, $125 for
instructors of other large ensembles, and $100 for all other
instructors;
- a one–time hourly
rate increase of $5 for faculty currently earning $100 or more;
- subsequent annual
increases of $3 per hour;
- more equitable
sharing of surcharges assessed to students of MSM College
faculty in the Precollege;
- raising the rate for
auditions to the minimum hourly rate;
- raising the rate for
mandatory trainings and meetings to the minimum hourly rate.
Although
minimum hourly rates at Mannes Prep and the MAP and Precollege
programs at Juilliard are at least double ours at MSM Precollege, we
believe that our proposals would be a meaningful step towards
bringing our division in line with these comparable NYC programs.
While we are making progress in negotiations over the School’s
proposed new pre-screening process for admissions and several
ARTS-MSM proposals regarding facilities, school e-mail usage, and
substitute teacher recommendations, MSM continues to reiterate
proposals for cutting non-sick leave absenteeism by half,
significantly increasing core classroom size limits, and restricting
our ability to offer remote studio lessons.
Of greatest concern, though, is the School’s failure to bring any
economic proposal to the table thus far. We want to be clear
about the significance of this: with less than a month left before
the expiration of our current agreement, and after more than a month
to review ARTS-MSM’s economic proposal, MSM is offering $0 to
Precollege faculty in terms of wage increases.
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Getting There From Here
We’re proud
of ARTS-MSM’s track record of standing up for the rights of
Precollege faculty members and preventing unilateral changes to the
terms and conditions of our employment at MSM. We can have strength,
too, when it comes to winning fair pay, but it will take the support
of our members to achieve this. It’s now more important than ever
that we be united in our fight for decent wages and work conditions.
Please continue to check your e-mails for updates about bargaining
and for ways you can show your solidarity with our goals.
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More Members = More Power!
More members mean more power for our
union! Not sure of your membership status or not yet a member?
Check your status or request a link to join online. Confirm and
activate your membership today!
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Observe Contract Bargaining
All ARTS-MSM members in good
standing are welcome to observe bargaining sessions. We are planning
to hold all sessions online and will notify you when dates are
confirmed. We ask that all observers attend a short orientation
session online prior to the start of bargaining, and stay 30 minutes
afterward for a debriefing.
Next
bargaining session: Tuesday, August 27 at 9:30 a.m.
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As always, we remain available at this
e-mail to respond to your questions at any time.
Wishing you all a wonderful August and in solidarity,
ARTS-MSM Officers:
Adam Kent, President
James Noyes, Vice President
Elena Belli, Treasurer
Karen Rostron, Secretary
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Bargaining Update #1 |
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Bargaining Commences On Tuesday, June 25th, NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist David Gribben led a 10-person ARTS-MSM bargaining team consisting of Gribben, union officers, and numerous ARTS-MSM member-observers, in our first bargaining session with management over Zoom. Since the union and MSM had exchanged proposals via email on June 24th, this first session was dedicated to asking questions for clarification. |
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Key Points Overwhelmingly, ARTS-MSM members told us their main concern was for better pay. We heard you, and accordingly, the bulk of our proposals are economic, including: - Increasing minimum hourly pay rates to $150 for orchestra conductors, $125 for instructors of other large ensembles, and $100 for all other instructors;
- One–time hourly rate increase of $5 for instructors already earning $100 or more;
- Subsequent annual increases of $3 per hour;
- Ensuring that studio faculty whose students are assessed a surcharge receive at least 75% of the surcharge amount on top the minimum hourly rate;
- Raising the rate for auditions to the minimum hourly rate;
- Raising the rate for mandatory trainings and meetings to the minimum hourly rate.
Other proposals include: - Prioritizing teaching studios with better pianos for piano teachers;
- Allowing teachers to engage substitutes 4 weeks per semester (currently 25% or 3.75 weeks) or 8 weeks over a full academic year (currently 7.5 weeks).
Among MSM’s most notable proposals were: - Increasing the maximum class sizes for theory and ear training from 18 to 23, and 12 to 16, respectively;
- Cutting the number of weeks teachers can engage substitutes for non-sick day-related absences to 2 per semester.
MSM did not put forth an economic proposal. |
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Getting There From Here The good news is that we don’t have to accept the changes MSM is proposing; thanks to our status as a unionized work force, the School may not make unilateral changes to our terms of employment. At the same time, MSM does not have to accept our proposals. If we want to achieve the improvements in our work lives ARTS-MSM is advocating, we need to be united in our support. Please continue to check your e-mails for updates about bargaining and for ways you can show your solidarity with our goals. |
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More Members = More Power! More members mean more power for our union! Not sure of your membership status or not yet a member? Check your status or request a link to join online. Confirm and activate your membership today!
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Observe Contract Bargaining All ARTS-MSM members in good standing are welcome to observe bargaining sessions. We are planning to hold all sessions online and will notify you when dates are confirmed. We ask that all observers attend a short orientation session online prior to the start of bargaining, and stay 30 minutes afterward for a debriefing. |
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