NYC's Metropolitan Opera reaches deals with orchestra, chorus; talks continue with 10 unions

New York's Metropolitan Opera has reached tentative labor deals with two of its largest unions while negotiations continue with 10 more unions in hopes of averting a lockout.

The federal Mediation and Conciliation Service announced early Monday that the Met has reached agreements with Local 802 of the musicians' union and with the American Guild of Musical Artists, its orchestra and chorus.

A spokesman for the Met said the contract deadline has been extended through midnight Tuesday with the remaining unions.

The Met had set a deadline of midnight Sunday for a lockout that could scuttle the opera's season.

Management has demanded salary cuts of about 17 percent.

The unions said members would lose as much as 30 percent of their income through pension cuts and higher health care costs.