The action was the first overt distress signal from talks between musicians and management that began in October and that now appear headed for a showdown Saturday morning, when the orchestra board is slated to take a vote on filing Chapter 11.
If the board votes yes - and if the Philadelphia Orchestra Association actually goes through with the filing - the ensemble would acquire some infamy as the first major U.S. orchestra to opt for bankruptcy.
Musicians are vehemently opposed to the move. They plan to press their case Friday morning in a meeting with Mayor Nutter and intend to stage other demonstrations in coming days.
"A vote for bankruptcy is unnecessary and will have both an immediate and a long-term devastating impact on your Orchestra," says the leaflet.
Management fears a strike, but players Thursday said the music would continue.
The current contract, which runs through Sept. 18, contains a no-strike clause, and musicians intend to honor it - unless the current contract is set aside in bankruptcy proceedings, said members' committee chairman and cellist John Koen.
"At that point, the strike clause is not in effect. We would have to make decision on what is the right thing to do."
No talks have taken place since March 27, players said, and none are scheduled.
A spokeswoman for management declined Thursday to answer questions.
Management's last offer was a base minimum salary in the first year of $104,000 - a 16 percent cut from the current $124,800 minimum and 20 percent lower than a previously scheduled (and canceled) raise that would have had players earning a minimum of $131,000.
Most players earn more - some much more - than the minimum.
By placing financial restructuring and contract negotiations under the supervision of bankruptcy court, management is betting it can relieve itself of a pension-withdrawal liability of about $25 million - the amount the association would be required to pay for withdrawing its participation from the program.
