“The Metropolitan Opera postponed a threatened lockout late on Thursday night … at the request of a federal mediator who was brought in at the 11th hour to try to salvage its contract negotiations with” the American Federation of Musicians and the American Guild of Musical Artists, writes Michael Cooper in Friday’s (8/1) New York Times. “While opening night for the new season is not until Sept. 22, a lockout would stop rehearsals that are already underway…. ‘At the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s request, we’ve agreed to extend the deadline for 72 hours,’ … [general manager Peter Gelb] said.… A parallel round of negotiations with the other main union at the Met—Local 1 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees … was held without a mediator. … the union described talks as ‘stalled’ but said the negotiations would continue. The Met did reach agreements with three of its unions: Local 32BJ, which represents ushers, ticket takers, cleaning staff members and security guards; and the unions representing the company’s call center workers and building engineers…. Labor leaders said … that averting a lockout was their main concern. Jessica Phillips Rieske, a clarinetist and chairwoman of the Met Orchestra’s negotiating committee, said, ‘Nobody wins in a lockout.’ ”
Posted August 1, 2014
