San Francisco Symphony musicians strike continues

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Symphony musicians held a small public concert Thursday as their strike against symphony management passed the one-week point.

The musicians went on strike on March 13, prompting the subsequent cancellation of multiple concerts at Davies Symphony Hall last week as well as a three-city East Coast tour.

A brass quartet played at 11:30 a.m. outside the symphony hall, where other musicians and their supporters also picketed.

The musicians are unhappy with proposals by management that they said do not allow them to stay competitive with other top orchestras in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Symphony officials have said substantial pay hikes are not likely since operating expenses have outpaced income for the past four years.

San Francisco Symphony musicians make an average of $165,000, the third-highest total behind Chicago and Los Angeles, but the musicians say the costs of living in the Bay Area and expensive instruments take up a large chunk of their paychecks.

Anyone with tickets to a canceled show can exchange them for an upcoming concert, donate their tickets, or receive a refund. Info can be found by calling the Symphony Box Office at (415) 864-6000 (between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday) and on the Orchestra's website at www.sfsymphony.org.

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