MONTREAL, CANADA (Top40 Charts / Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal) The management of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) and the Quebec Musicians' Guild (GMMQ) are pleased to announce the renewal of the OSM musicians' collective agreement, which expired on August 31, 2014, for a period of four years.
"This is an important day for the OSM, its musicians, subscribers, donors, and other partners," said Lucien Bouchard, chairman of the OSM's board of directors. "Reaching this agreement, less than a month after the previous collective agreement expired, is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect shared by all the OSM artisans. With a term of four years, the collective agreement consolidates the stability and good relations within the broad OSM family. Our orchestra can now focus on reaching new heights of excellence and gaining even greater exposure on the national and international stage."
"This successful conclusion is the result of a mutual desire to negotiate in a spirit that places at the forefront our common interest to continue to develop the OSM while maintaining good working conditions for the musicians, which have helped the OSM reach such a high standard of excellence," added Luc Fortin, president of the Québec Musicians' Guild.
The GMMQ and the OSM management thanks Martine De Carufel, the mediator-conciliator appointed by the Ministère du Travail in the fall of 2013, for finding common ground on all the working conditions. Both parties would also like to underscore the spirit of collaboration shown by the union negotiating committee, made up of Eric Chappell, Alain Desgagné, Bernard LeBlanc, Sylvain Murray,
Simon Roux, and Michael Sundell, as well as by the management committee, consisting of Sébastien Almon, Marie-Josée Desrochers, Jean Gaudreault, and Michel Hamelin.
Ms. De Carufel's recommendation was accepted today by both the musicians attending the meeting and the OSM's executive committee. The agreement dealt with the issue of remuneration for the OSM's 93 musicians and on the parameters related to the broadcast of concerts on a multimedia platform.
"The productive discussions we have had over the last few months allowed us to create a climate of positive labour relations that will lead to consensual solutions rather than having to resort to grievance or legal proceedings," Madeleine Careau, the OSM's CEO, was pleased to note. "This four-year agreement will allow us to continue to present a rich and diversified program of music," she added.
The OSM musicians' new collective agreement covers the period from
September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2018. The formal signing of this agreement will take place at a later date.
About the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Since its founding in 1934, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal has distinguished itself as a leader in the orchestral life of Québec and Canada. As a cultural ambassador of the highest order, the OSM has earned enviable reputation worldwide, thanks to its numerous recordings and tours of the highest quality. The OSM, under the direction of
Music Director Kent Nagano, continues this rich tradition, while distinguishing itself through innovative programming that aims at updating the symphonic repertoire, and at firmly establishing the OSM's position within the community. In
September of 2011, the OSM and Maestro Nagano inaugurated the Maison symphonique de Montréal, the Orchestra's new home. Inaugurated on May 28, 2014, at Maison symphonique, the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique was generously offered to the OSM by Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais.
About the Quebec Musicians' Guild
The primary mission of the Québec Musicians' Guild, which comprises almost 3,300 members, is to represent and defend the moral, social, and economic interests of professional musicians, to ensure that their contribution to the community is duly recognized. As both an artists' association and a union, the Guild has a mandate to establish minimum working conditions for musicians and to negotiate collective agreements with producers and producers' associations.
