Updated message from the Chorus, as of September 24:

The AGMA Choristers of the San Francisco Symphony officially went on strike on Thursday, September 19, 2024, following months of collective bargaining with the Symphony Management, who continue to propose drastic and unjustifiable cuts to the Chorus. Management’s last proposal, in response to AGMA’s offer to settle the strike threat ahead of the Verdi Requiem, was either a wage freeze for the current 2024/25 season, or a two-year contract with a 10% base compensation reduction and no guarantee of a bounce back in future years.

Last year, the Symphony essentially pushed for a one-year wage freeze, assuring us they’d have the necessary information to negotiate a multi-year agreement this year. Instead, when we began negotiations in May, they demanded an 80% cut to the Chorus budget. Now, they've repackaged the same one-year freeze and are trying to sell it to us as something new. We’re not falling for that again.

AGMA had offered to take an 8.9% reduction in its economic package during 2024-25 season, with a return to the 2023-24 minimum base compensation in the second year, and continued discussions regarding year three to avert a strike. Management’s refusal to consider this reasonable settlement offer, which gave them a financial reprieve sooner rather than later, is what led to the Union’s declaration of strike action during the Verdi Requiem. We were prepared to keep bargaining to avoid canceling all three days of scheduled performances, but Management chose instead to cancel the entire run immediately and to blame AGMA for its decision.

An overwhelming majority of the members of the Chorus, including the overwhelming majority of unpaid singers, dozens of players from the Orchestra represented by AFM Local 6, other sibling unions, would-be concert-attendees, and local supporters, took to the picket line and urged the Symphony's leaders to work with AGMA to reach a fair contract.

Negotiations resumed on Tuesday, September 24, with the Symphony refusing to move from the offer that forced the strike—not because they cannot pay, but because they are "unwilling" to pay, even though the Chorus makes up roughly ONE PERCENT of the SFS $80.9 million budget!

Here's where we need your help:

Help us protect these choral jobs and the Arts in the Bay Area. Please send letters to the Symphony's leadership and Board, asking them to negotiate fairly and keep the choristers’ standards intact. Your support is crucial to ensure the San Francisco Symphony can continue to thrive as a world-class organization without losing the talent and dedication that have brought the Symphony international renown, soaring ticket sales, donations contributing to its enormous endowment, EIGHT GRAMMY AWARDS as well as dozens of nominations, and joy to so many. Together, we can Save the Chorus!

How to send a letter:

We have launched an Action Network letter-writing campaign, and you can send a pre-drafted email in under five minutes. You can send it as is or personalize it any way you’d like. However, PLEASE enter your own personalized SUBJECT LINE to avoid it being sent to spam.

The letter will be automatically sent to the CEO Matt Spivey, the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors, and patronservices@sfsymphony.org.

You do not need to be an AGMA member to send a letter through this campaign. Every voice and every supporter of the Chorus matters. We hope you take a further step and encourage friends, family, and colleagues to send a letter by sharing this campaign with your network.