The embattled Metropolitan Opera settled the last of three outstanding contracts with its largest unions on Aug. 20, clearing the final major hurdle for its season to begin on time in September.

The deal followed a marathon bargaining session between the opera and Local 1 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents stagehands, carpenters and electricians. The unions representing the orchestra and chorus settled on Aug. 18, after intervention by a federal mediator.

The negotiations, which almost led to a lockout of workers, were the diciest at the opera house in several decades, with Met General Manager Peter Gelb initially seeking pay cuts of between 16 and 17 percent, cuts to health and pension benefits and changes in work rules.

The unions representing both the orchestra and chorus have agreed to four-year pacts including an immediate 3.5 percent wage cut followed by a second 3.5 percent reduction — either as a further wage cut or a negotiated change in benefits — in six months. The workers will receive a 3 percent increase in the fourth year of the contract.

In exchange, the Met has agreed to cut administrative costs and to trim $11.25 million in other expenses from its budget each year.

The agreements are expected to help the Met, which has an annual budget of more than $300 million, shave $90 million in spending over the next four years.

The New York Times, Aug. 18, 20