Just In: President of the Met Orchestra Musicians' Union, Tino Gagliardi, Releases Statement

Statement from Tino Gagliardi, President, Met Orchestra musicians' union Local 802, AFM:

"We are pleased to hear that our colleagues, the Met Opera stagehands and craftspeople of I.A.T.S.E. Local 1, have also reached a tentative agreement, bringing us closer to the shared goal of opening night. We are very glad that Local 1 has joined us in insisting on mandatory cost reductions from management and an independent monitor to track budget performance, since they are crucial to achieving sustainable excellence at the Met. Throughout these negotiations, we took a data-driven approach and raised recommendations regarding the best ways to achieve innovative, fiscally responsible grand opera at the Met. As a result of this, and the good work of federal mediators and an independent financial analyst, we now have tentative contractual language requiring shared investments in the Met Opera's future by both workers and management, as well as mechanisms to ensure financial oversight and efficient collaboration going forward. The musicians of the MET orchestra love what they do and believe strongly in the relevance and future of opera. We stand with all those who remain at the table as negotiations continue."