Until now, Mr. Masur operated under an "evergreen contract," which came up for renewal every year and took effect two years in the future.

Mr. Masur worked under a so-called evergreen contract whose third year came up for renewal annually, so he always had two years' warning of any change.

His initial contract was for three years, but his subsequent contract renewals were evergreen contracts that required yearly renewal.

Edward Beane, a lawyer for Mr. Galante, said evergreen contracts are legal and are used in industries besides waste hauling, including elevator service.

In addition to the criminal charges facing the 12 companies, the commission asserted that they compelled their customers to sign so-called evergreen contracts that committed them to terms up to five years.

Although Mr. Masur's original contract with the Philharmonic ran through 1997, Ms. Borda said that it is now an evergreen contract, that is, one that is automatically renewable.