Peter Gelb, the Metropolitan Opera's general manager, warned that a lockout of union workers is imminent if the opera house's singers, orchestra members, stagehands and other employees cannot reach a labor agreement with management by next week.
Gelb wrote in a letter to union workers: "If we are not able to reach agreements by July 31 that would enable the Met to operate on an economically sound basis, please plan for the likelihood of a work stoppage beginning Aug. 1."
The contracts of 15 of the opera house's 16 unions are set to expire on July 31. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Gelb and representatives from the company's 3 main unions were not yet close to reaching an agreement.
Gelb's letter to employees also stated: "The Met cannot continue on its current economic path; we must find cost reductions." He has proposed a number of work-rule and benefit changes intended to reduce the company's labor costs by about 17%.
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