Minnesota Opera Orchestra Votes Unanimously to Authorize Strike Ahead of Season Opener

Key facts

• All 46 members of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra voted to authorize a strike.
• The musicians are members of the American Federation of Musicians, Twin Cities Local 30-73.
• The opera's 2026-27 season is scheduled to begin on October 31 with the world premiere of "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr."
• Rebecca Arons, a cellist for 29 years and chair of the negotiating committee, said management proposed cuts and then flat salaries, which have been flat for four years.
• If the current contract proposal is adopted, it would mean eight years without a cost-of-living increase, according to Arons.
• The union last authorized a strike in 2023, but a strike was avoided after negotiations established a guaranteed minimum salary, though it meant a pay cut and no wage increases.
• Minnesota Opera management said it is disappointed and committed to reaching a fair and sustainable agreement, while disputing the union's characterizations.
• The union claims an 18 to 20 percent increase in salaries for top administrative positions, while the opera says those salaries only increased 2 percent from FY20 to FY25 and that the increases were restorations after voluntary pandemic pay cuts.
• A Minnesota Opera web page titled "Claims Vs. Facts" states that orchestra compensation has increased because scale rates of pay and pension did not remain flat.
• Violinist Ian Snyder said at a press conference Tuesday that the orchestra supports the arts ecosystem, including music teachers, Broadway shows, and ballet series.
• Negotiations continue on Wednesday.