Several shows cancelled as Vancouver Symphony Orchestra musicians begin strike

The musicians of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra are now on strike, staging picket lines outside of the Orpheum Theatre.

The musicians of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra began striking outside the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday afternoon, accusing their employer of turning “a deaf ear” to their demands.

As a result of the job action, several upcoming performances are “unable to take place,” according to the symphony’s website.

Among the affected shows are Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert, which had been scheduled for Thursday and Friday, and a TwoSet Violin performance on Saturday.

The orchestra’s union, Vancouver Musicians’ Association Local 145, began contract negotiations with the Vancouver Symphony Society back in March, but the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement.

The musicians’ contract expired on July 1.

They voted 97 per cent in favour of job action at the end of that month, and their union issued 72-hour strike notice on Monday.

“If Vancouver wants to be a world-class city, it needs world-class institutions,” said VMA 145 president Audrey Patterson, in a statement. “The Vancouver Symphony has been one of those institutions for 107 years, thanks to the dedication and stewardship of its musicians and the Society until now.”

The employer’s current offer is a 15 per cent wage increase over three years, according to the union, which countered with a 23 per cent increase over the same term.

The annual base salary for VSO musicians is just over $75,000, said Patterson, who compared that to counterparts at the Toronto Symphony making nearly $100,000.

Competitive salaries are necessary to attract and retain top talent, the union said.

In a statement this week, VSO president and CEO Angela Elster said the musicians weren’t accounting for the Toronto orchestra’s “significantly higher revenues,” in line with the size of the population they serve.

“We do not believe that the union’s actions, including an aggressive public campaign, will assist in finding a resolution when management is still at the table, but we respect their right to strike if they so choose,” she said.

According to the union, the VSO has thrived financially in recent years, resulting in more staff positions and higher salaries for upper management, but musicians’ wages have not kept pace.

The latest information on scheduled performances is available on the VSO website.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Mina Kerr-Lazenby