Due to a strike, Carnegie Hall has had to cancel its opening night concert.
Carnegie Hall stagehands went on strike and are currently picketing outside, The New York Times reports. The strikers set up a giant inflatable rat outside the hall as well.
The opening night of the new season was to begin with a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra, with conductor Yannick Nezet-Sequin.
President of Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, James J. Claffey, Jr., said "As of right now, the strike is on." The comment is his current answering machine message.
The issue surrounding the strike is about whether or not the union has control over work in the new education wing of Carnegie Hall.
Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall's executive and artistic director, said, "We are disappointed that, despite the fact that the stagehands have one of the most lucrative contracts in the industry, they are now seeking to expand their jurisdiction beyond the concert hall and into the new education wing."
According to Bloomberg, a statement said, "Local One also demands that Carnegie Hall displace other union employees currently performing maintenance work in the new Education Wing, insisting that stagehands perform this work, which will involve a substantially higher cost."
A senior stagehand's pay at Carnegie Hall in 2011 was $465,000.
image: Wikimedia Commons
