New York's Metropolitan Opera has extended its contracts with its various labor unions for another week while it undergoes an independent financial review. The Met has threatened a lockout if it couldn't reach an agreement cutting wages and benefits for its stage hands, orchestra, chorus and other workers. The unions agreed to the extension and the financial review so that both sides have a clear picture of the Met's financial troubles. Both sides are hoping to reach a new contract agreement and avoid a lockout, which could threaten the opening of the Met's season in September.
See "Lockout Is Delayed While an Independent Analyst Examines the Met?s Finances", Michael Cooper, The New York Times, August 3, 2014