By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians claim management is locking them out, but symphony executives say there's been a misunderstanding.
Musicians arriving at the hall say they found the stage door locked and auditions cancelled. Earlier this week they rejected a proposal that would cut 500 dollars from their base pay by 2008.
Negotiating committee chair Jan Gippo says salaries in St. Louis are 10 to 15-thousand dollars lower than among other symphonies.
"None of the really fine players will come here for that kind of money when there are 15 to 18 orchestras above us that pay more," Gippo said.
But a symphony spokesman says there was no lockout. He says management did in fact invite the musicians to rehearse Wednesday morning, but that the protest resulted from a miscommunication.