Breaking: Met announces new lockout deadline

Apparently the negotiations are making progress. Peter Gelb has announced there must be a deal by August 17, or he locks the place up and throws away the key. No change in his tune, then.

Musicians press release:

Met Opera Update: Despite Met Opera Management’s New Lockout Deadline of 8/17, Opera Musicians Eager to Continue to Negotiate in Good Faith

FMCS Announces Independent Analyst Report Nearing Completion

New York, NY–Monday, August 11, 2014–The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), announced today that the report of the independent analyst brought in to review the Metropolitan Opera’s finances was nearing its completion. Negotiations between the Met and the musicians (Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians) and the chorus and other members of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) will resume later this week. Although the Met Management has announced a deadline for Sunday, August 17, after which, if there is no agreement, they will lock out the musicians, craftspeople and choristers, it is Local 802 and AGMA’s intention to continue to bargain in good faith until an agreement can be reached by both sides.

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