By Aimee Picchi | MoneyWatch | A lawsuit over equal pay in the ultra-competitive classical music world may strike a chord with women in all types of professions.
The lawsuit, from Boston Symphony Orchestra principal flutist Elizabeth Rowe, claims she’s a victim of gender bias because the orchestra pays the principal oboist — a man — about $70,000 more per year.
While both instruments are important in orchestral music and require similar abilities, Rowe’s lawsuit claims she was also featured as “a star performer and the face of the BSO,” trotted out for solos and to convince donors to open their wallets — yet still paid less. Aware of the discrepancy in pay with her oboist colleague, she asked the orchestra to adjust her salary to reach parity during each of the last three years, but to no avail, according to the lawsuit.
The suit is challenging the orchestra’s pay structure under Massachusetts’ new Equal Pay Act, which went into effect in July and prohibits employers from paying lower wages to workers of a different gender who perform comparable work, which in most cases are women.
“Both the principal oboe and principal flute are leaders of their woodwind sections, they are seated adjacent to each other, they each play with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, and are both leaders of the orchestra in similarly demanding artistic roles,” the lawsuit noted.
> > > > > > > > > >
And the principals of the viola, trumpet, timpani and horn section — all men — also earned more than Rowe, her lawsuit alleges.
So how did oboist Ferrillo, end up earning more than Rowe? He was wooed away from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra with the promise of double the typical pay of the orchestra’s rank-and-file. Rowe’s lawsuit claims the orchestra should correct that discrepancy under the new state law.
© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
Read the whole article here – VERY IMPORTANT:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-top-flutist-paid-70000-less-than-a-male-oboist-claims-sues-for-gender-bias/