Following weeks of difficult negotiations, musicians with the Boston Symphony Orchestra voted unanimously Saturday morning to authorize a strike, calling it a first in the orchestra’s history.
The vote, which comes just before their current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, does not immediately call for a strike. Rather, it offers union members leverage at the negotiating table, clearing the way for a work stoppage if the parties cannot agree on a collective bargaining agreement.
The negotiations have been complicated by deep divisions following the abrupt dismissal of music director Andris Nelsons.
Management has “failed to agree to a collective bargaining agreement that would begin to restore the trust that they have destroyed and offer a fair contract to the musicians who are the heart and soul of the BSO,” the Boston Symphony Players Committee said in a statement. “At present, BSO management has not agreed to the union’s proposal to bring in a professional mediator.”
The BSO board shocked musicians in early March when it announced it would not renew Nelsons’ contract. The decision plunged the organization into the deepest crisis in its 145-year history.
Management has sought to move past the turmoil, saying Nelsons had to go because he was “not aligned on future vision.” Meanwhile, the musicians, many of whom adore the maestro, are deeply upset that they weren’t consulted on the decision, saying publicly that they’ve lost faith in BSO leadership.
Contract negotiations, which began in the spring, have inevitably become intertwined with the broader debate over the future of the orchestra. And while the two sides have sparred over more traditional workplace issues — wages, healthcare, pensions — the musicians are also seeking a greater voice in artistic decision-making, including programming and the selection of a new maestro.
BSO president Chad Smith said he respected the musicians’ right to authorize a strike, calling it “part of the negotiating process.”
“Our focus remains on the negotiations and the ongoing constructive conversations,” he said in a statement. “We are committed to reaching an agreement with competitive pay and benefits that enhances collaboration with the Players.”
The two sides are expected to continue negotiating through the weekend.
This story has been updated to reflect that the players called the authorization vote a historic first.
Malcolm Gay can be reached at malcolm.gay@globe.com.