NAC Orchestra musicians vote unanimously to authorize strike over wages
The orchestra votes for a strike mandate ahead of Oct. 15 negotiations with the National Arts Centre over pay, which they say has fallen behind other Canadian orchestras since COVID.
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Musicians in the NAC Orchestra have voted unanimously in favour of a strike mandate, signalling serious intent ahead of negotiations with management scheduled for Oct. 15. The unionized members are represented by Local 180 of the Musicians' Association of Ottawa-Gatineau, an affiliate of the Canadian Federation of Musicians.
Wages are the primary issue driving the dispute. "Since COVID, the orchestra feels that it has fallen behind some of the other Canadian orchestras and they're not happy about it," said Robin Moir, secretary-treasurer of Local 180. "There are other odds and ends, like work schedules, but primarily it is money."
Moir emphasized that the strike mandate does not mean a strike is inevitable. "We are obviously hoping that there's no strike, but the orchestra's (strike) mandate lets the arts centre know that the musicians are quite serious about this negotiation," Moir said. "Depending on what happens on the 15th, if they make us an offer that we think the orchestra can accept, then they can vote on whether to ratify it or not."
Moir also clarified that work stress, previously reported as an issue for musicians, has not come up in bargaining. The orchestra's new music director, Finnish conductor John Storgards, is set to lead his first concert with the ensemble on Nov. 4-5, featuring Beethoven and Dvorak. Storgards succeeds Alexander Shelley as maestro starting the 2026-27 season.
What is the timeline for a potential strike if negotiations fail on Oct. 15?
How many musicians are affected by this dispute?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What is the main issue in the dispute?
Wages are the primary concern, with musicians at the NAC Orchestra saying their pay has fallen behind other Canadian orchestras since COVID.
Does a strike mandate mean a strike will happen?
No. According to Robin Moir, secretary-treasurer of Local 180, the mandate signals serious intent but does not make a strike inevitable; the musicians hope to reach an acceptable agreement instead.
