San Francisco Opera Strike Disrupts Season | California News

0:00It's September 13th. Welcome to California News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. The San Francisco Opera's opening night was a bust because the Unionized musicians walked out. Their contract expired back on July 31st and negotiations hit a wall. The orchestra announced on social media they were striking, saying management's offers were just not enough. And they were forced to stop work due to proposed cuts. The opera confirmed that the performance of Verde's Simon Bacanegra was canceled. They released a statement explaining they're dealing with a $15 million deficit, even with good sales and donations. Management claims the orchestra's pay structure is out of sync with the available work and needs adjustments. The musicians, represented by the American Federation of Musicians, local six, pushed back hard. They pointed out that management's initial proposal was a 26% pay cut, taking them back to 2015 wages. Even their revised offer was essentially a 20% cut over five years when you factor an

1:03inflation. Meanwhile, the Union highlighted that the General Director's salary jumped significantly, from $424,000 to $729,000 in just a few years. They argued the opera isn't in financial distress, citing sold-out shows, and an $8 million increase in donations compared to the previous. Year. The musicians are standing firm, saying they're fighting for a fair contract, not just for themselves, but to ensure the opera can attract and keep. Talented musicians in the future. This situation leaves the opera season in serious doubt as the strike continues.