JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Board members for the Jacksonville Symphony have declared an impasse in its talks with the union over a new contract.
The union must now decide whether to take a drastic pay cut or go on strike. Board chairman-elect Martin Connor tells Action News it's the salaries of the musicians that puts the symphony in the red. The symphony is set to lose more than a $1.5 million this year, says Connor. The board says it is still willing to work with the union and look for other sources of funding, but Connor says it's now in the hands of the union whether to strike or accept the deal.
The union president, Peter Wright, told Action News last week the board wants musicians to take a 20 percent cut in salary. The union's proposal is to keep salaries frozen at $40,000. The union also says it could save the symphony $750,000 over the next three years.
