Strikes, Call for Boycott Threatened at NYC Opera

NY (AP) NY City Opera declared an impasse Thursday in contract negotiations with unions for its singers and musicians, threatening to present its abbreviated season without them.The unions for the company's singers, chorus and ballet dancers responded by saying they may strike, and they asked individuals and corporations to boycott buying tickets and withhold donations to the financially troubled company.General Manager George Steel said the City Opera planned to present a season "one way or another."In response, "We would tell our members they can't work," Alan Gordon, national executive director of the American Guild of Musical Artists, said during a telephone interview. "Maybe George will sing?"The unions filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in May, one week after the company announced it was leaving Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, its home since 1966. The NLRB has not ruled on the charge, which alleged management illegally decided on the move without bargaining. The unions say they will file a second charge over new work rules.Founded as "the people's opera" by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1944, City Opera spent decades across Lincoln Center Plaza overshadowed by the Metropolitan Opera. Still, it helped build the careers of Beverly Sills, Placido Domingo and Renee Fleming, and it typically presented 12-16 operas with a peak of about 130 performances in a season.The company announced in 2007 that Gerard Mortier would become general manager for the 2009-10 season, but he backed out in 2008 after complaining he wasn't given a sufficient budget. The company missed the 2008-9 season at Lincoln Center because of the reconstruction of its theater, then presented an abbreviated schedule of five operas and 33 performances last season.Since the spring, City Opera has eliminated 42 percent of its administrative staff.City Opera, which claims deficits of $44 million over a decade, announced in July a schedule of four operas at three venues from February to May next year.According to the implemented terms, obtained by The Associated Press, there would be no salary increase this season, a 1 percent raise in 2012-13 and a 2 percent increase the following season.In a letter to contributors, Gordon said a strike against all performances was likely, and he urged the public not to buy tickets."You need to be aware that every dollar that you contribute to City Opera is being wasted," Gordon wrote. He said "it would be a travesty to allow the itinerant, small scale opera company" to perform "in bizarre venues with volunteer and student singers."Chuck Wall, who became the company's chairman last December, said "the board is 100 percent committed to continuing the work of City Opera and we look forward to continuing to work with our contributors."Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Ronald Blum December 2, 2011 NY (AP) NY City Opera declared an impasse Thursday in contract negotiations with unions for its singers and musicians, threatening to present its abbreviated season without them.The unions for the company's singers, chorus and ballet dancers responded by saying they may strike, and they asked individuals and corporations to boycott buying tickets and withhold donations to the financially troubled company.General Manager George Steel said the City Opera planned to present a season "one way or another."In response, "We would tell our members they can't work," Alan Gordon, national executive director of the American Guild of Musical Artists, said during a telephone interview. "Maybe George will sing?"The unions filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in May, one week after the company announced it was leaving Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, its home since 1966. The NLRB has not ruled on the charge, which alleged management illegally decided on the move without bargaining. The unions say they will file a second charge over new work rules.Founded as "the people's opera" by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1944, City Opera spent decades across Lincoln Center Plaza overshadowed by the Metropolitan Opera. Still, it helped build the careers of Beverly Sills, Placido Domingo and Renee Fleming, and it typically presented 12-16 operas with a peak of about 130 performances in a season.The company announced in 2007 that Gerard Mortier would become general manager for the 2009-10 season, but he backed out in 2008 after complaining he wasn't given a sufficient budget. The company missed the 2008-9 season at Lincoln Center because of the reconstruction of its theater, then presented an abbreviated schedule of five operas and 33 performances last season.Since the spring, City Opera has eliminated 42 percent of its administrative staff.City Opera, which claims deficits of $44 million over a decade, announced in July a schedule of four operas at three venues from February to May next year.According to the implemented terms, obtained by The Associated Press, there would be no salary increase this season, a 1 percent raise in 2012-13 and a 2 percent increase the following season.In a letter to contributors, Gordon said a strike against all performances was likely, and he urged the public not to buy tickets."You need to be aware that every dollar that you contribute to City Opera is being wasted," Gordon wrote. He said "it would be a travesty to allow the itinerant, small scale opera company" to perform "in bizarre venues with volunteer and student singers."Chuck Wall, who became the company's chairman last December, said "the board is 100 percent committed to continuing the work of City Opera and we look forward to continuing to work with our contributors."Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.