Thursday (12/1) on the New York Times blog ArtsBeat, Daniel J. Wakin reports, “Contract talks between New York City Opera and its two main unions broke down on Wednesday night shortly after midnight, leaving little immediate prospect of an agreement and raising the possibility of a strike by the orchestra and chorus. Financial problems have led the company to drastically shrink its season, to about four productions, and to abandon its Lincoln Center home, the David H. Koch Theater, to save money. It plans to perform at several sites around New York in the winter and spring. The budget was shrunk to $13.3 million from around $31 million. Management has said it must also severely reduce the pay and benefits to the orchestra and chorus to survive. The unions argue that the new strategy essentially guts the orchestra and chorus, turning them into freelance outfits. … The next steps were unclear Thursday. [Union representative Gail] Kruvand said the players may file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board over what she said was management’s refusal to talk further, and noted that the musicians had authorized a strike. Rehearsals are not expected to go into full swing until early January, so any practical effects of a strike would not be felt until then.”
Posted December 2, 2011
