In Monday’s (1/9) New York Times, Daniel J. Wakin reports, “New York City Opera’s future darkened this weekend when the company declared a lockout for the first rehearsal of the season, scheduled for Monday, amid a labor dispute with its unions. The impasse raises the possibility that the struggling company may have to cancel its first production, ‘La Traviata,’ and possibly the season. The move came after mediated talks broke down on Saturday night. … The lockout most immediately affects the chorus, which was scheduled to report for a ‘Traviata’ rehearsal at 3 p.m. on Monday, along with a rehearsal pianist. The orchestra is not scheduled to rehearse until Feb. 1. City Opera’s spokeswoman, Risa B. Heller, said the company had no plans to hire replacement workers. … City Opera wants to eliminate salaries for the chorus and orchestra and pay only for individual rehearsals and performances, saying it simply cannot afford large contracts based on a far larger season. The unions say such a plan would cost dozens of jobs and lead to pay reductions of 90 percent, when the workers have already made large pay concessions in recent years.”
Posted January 9, 2012
