Using a kind of brinkmanship that has become commonplace in contract negotiations of symphony orchestras, the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony went on strike on Wednesday, a week before a scheduled appearance at Carnegie Hall. The orchestra announced the cancellation of a concert at its home auditorium, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, that was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The musicians’ contract expired in November but was extended to February when, by mutual agreement, the musicians continued talking and playing. On Wednesday the union rejected the administration’s latest proposal for a three-year contract that, according to the administration, “would have kept the musicians among the three highest-paid orchestras in the country†(the others being the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic). The current average salary of the musicians is $165,000, the administration said. In addition to higher salaries, the musicians are seeking increases in benefits and pension contributions.A spokesman for the players could not immediately be reached. The administration said it had already notified the players that it would present a revised proposal on Thursday. It plans to go ahead with the presentation, it said, in hopes that San Francisco concerts can resume on Friday and an East Coast tour can proceed.
