NEW YORK – The shuttered Metropolitan Opera said it will lock out its stagehands in Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees at midnight on Monday because it has been unable to negotiate wage cuts during the novel coronavirus pandemic.Met General Manager Peter Gelb said the company proposed 30% cuts, of which half would be restored when box office and core donations reach pre-pandemic benchmarks, as part of a five-year contract to replace the deal that expired July 31.
Gelb estimated the Met has lost $154 million in revenue due to the pandemic.The Met stopped performances March 12 because of the pandemic and ended pay for Local One about two weeks later.