Symphony is on strike in Detroit

DETROIT - Musicians with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra went on strike Monday after refusing to accept pay cuts of more than 30 percent.

The musicians would normally be preparing for their season-opening performances, but instead about 65 of them marched in front of Max M. Fisher Music Center in downtown Detroit dressed in formal performance attire, while a French horn quartet of their colleagues played.

Haden McKay, a cellist and spokesman for the musicians, called the strike "the only weapon we have" to keep the orchestra from being permanently harmed.

"If we were to continue to work under their contract, we would see a very bad talent drain," said McKay, a 27-year orchestra veteran.

"We're not necessarily lowering our quality, we're adjusting to an economic condition in order to stay in business," said orchestra chief executive and president Anne Parsons. "If everyone can embrace that and move on together, we will be successful. If the orchestra stays out on strike and decides they won't perform . . . it won't be successful."

Symphony management declared an impasse Sept. 1 and began implementing a 33 percent base pay cut for orchestra veterans, from $104,650 to $70,200 in the first year. Musicians had offered a 22 percent reduction in the first year to $82,000, which would increase in subsequent years.

The two sides met most recently with state and federal mediators Sept. 24. No bargaining sessions are scheduled.

Music director Leonard Slatkin has given back more than 20 percent of his salary and the staff has reduced administrative costs by 30 percent in the last two years, including layoffs, salary cuts and other benefit reductions, Parsons said.