San Francisco Symphony Players Set Stage for Strike

Musicians with the San Francisco Symphony, who have been performing without a contract for several months, have authorized a strike if a deal on pay and benefits is not reached this week, the San Francisco Business Times and The Sacramento Bee report.

The strike vote came three weeks after a contract extension expired. Negotiations have been going on for several months and now involve a federal mediator, with whom both sides are next scheduled to meet on Tuesday.

Violist David Gaudry, the musicians’ chief negotiator, said the main sticking point in the talks is a proposed wage freeze in the first year of management’s proffered contract. “We take issue with that” at a time when the symphony has a $239-million endowment and has boosted executive director Brent Assink’s pay, Mr. Gaudry said.