SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY SALARIES MAY BE CUT

The “new era” for the San Diego Symphony, which teetered on the brink of bankruptcy last week, turned sour for the musicians Tuesday when they learned that management still plans to hit them with a 19% pay cut for the rest of the season.

At issue is a labor contract signed almost three years ago. It called for increases in pay of $5 a week the first two years but a jump of $27 a week this year, plus an increase in the length of the season from 38 to 45 weeks. Orchestra members say management had two years to prepare for the pay increases, and they view with skepticism efforts by management to alter that contract.

Representatives of the 90-member orchestra say they were surprised to learn that, after the successful emergency fund drive that generated more than $2.1 million in cash and pledges, management still intends to impose a 10% pay cut that is retroactive to the beginning of the season. The 19% figure comes from making the pay cut retroactive.

Musicians responded with loud hissing before a rehearsal Tuesday morning when a letter was read from symphony management suggesting that negotiations on the pay cut begin. According to bassist Greg Berton, music director David Atherton said he had just heard the news and was “disgusted.” Atherton immediately canceled the rehearsal.

That action was in direct contrast to Saturday night, when a grateful Atherton told a concert audience of the fund drive’s success, which signaled “this evening’s concert will not be the penultimate concert. It will be the beginning of a whole new era for this orchestra.”