“The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced Monday that it has canceled concerts scheduled between now through Oct. 27,” writes Elizabeth Bloom in Monday’s (10/3) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Musicians went on strike on Friday, September 30. “Management’s last offer, initially made on Sept. 18 before the process went into federal mediation, would have cut musicians’ pay by 15 percent; transitioned the musicians’ retirement plans from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan with an 8 percent contribution; and left three vacancies in the orchestra open, with the possibility that future vacancies would not be filled. Musicians proposed a salary freeze in the first year and increases of 2 percent, 3 percent and 4 percent in the final three years of a four-year contract…. Ticketholders will be notified as soon as possible with options for handling unused tickets.” On the list of cancelled concerts are Oct. 7 and 9 (Pinchas Zukerman), Oct. 14-16 (Dvorák’s New World), Oct. 19 (FUSE@PSO Bartok and Bjork), Oct. 19 (Music 101), Oct. 22 (Classical Mystery Tour), and Oct. 27 (Music of John Williams).
Posted October 4, 2016
