St. Louis musicians reject contract

With concerts slated for Friday and Saturday, members of the St. Louis Symphony must decide whether to rehearse today after their rejection of a new contract on Monday triggered their first work stoppage in three decades.

Union musicians in the nation’s second-oldest orchestra voted 85 to 3 to turn down a four-year contract that included pay cuts and changes in benefits and work rules. The musicians insisted they deserved a raise after accepting pay cuts three years ago to stave off bankruptcy. No new contract talks are scheduled, according to Jeff Trammel, an orchestra spokesman.