Minnesota Orchestra Musicians to Vote on Latest Offer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Locked-out musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra will vote Saturday on management's latest contract proposal.

A new three-year contract offer management released Thursday would cut musicians salaries' from an average of $136,000 a year under the old contract to $104,500. Each musician also would receive a $20,000 signing bonus.

Reports say union spokesman Blois Olson says the musicians would offer their own proposal Friday.  But Olson also says the musicians are prepared to meet over the weekend with management and the mediator in the labor dispute, former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.

Musicians were locked out Oct. 1, 2012. Music director Osmo Vanska has threatened to resign is the dispute isn't resolved by Monday so musicians can rehearse for two upcoming Carnegie Hall concerts.