SYMPHONY PAY TALKS STALL

Negotiations between musicians and the San Diego Symphony have been suspended because of management’s proposed reductions in wages and the length of the season.

Management proposed two measures that musicians’ representatives said are “totally unrealistic.”

Orchestra representatives said management had demanded cuts in the weekly minimum wage and the number of contracted weeks from the current 45 to 38, and that music director David Atherton appoint principals, assistant principals and associate principals.

“No other orchestra in the country allows the maestro to appoint” those positions, said bassist Greg Berton, chairman of the musicians’ orchestra committee.

Berton also said the cut in the weekly minimum wage was unrealistic. He said the symphony position was to retain the current weekly minimum of $472 for three years. The musicians are asking that the weekly minimum be raised to $778.