Overview
- Musicians voted unanimously on Saturday to authorize what would be the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s first strike, a step that allows them to call a work stoppage if no contract is reached.
- The authorization does not stop performances immediately and was timed just before the musicians’ contract is set to expire, though reports differ on whether that deadline is late Sunday or just before midnight Monday.
- Negotiations are ongoing through the weekend; the players say management has declined their request for a professional mediator while BSO leadership says it remains focused on reaching an agreement.
- The dispute grew from the board’s March decision not to renew Music Director Andris Nelsons, which musicians say damaged trust and pushed artistic control and music-director selection onto the bargaining table.
- If talks fail, the move could disrupt two upcoming Tanglewood concerts and the BSO’s September season opener, with possible financial and reputational impacts for musicians, staff and the institution.