Management and musicians both told Inquirer writer Peter Dobrin off the record that the other was to blame for the deadlock (officially, the talks are under a news blackout). Management continues to insist that musicians must accept a total of $1.8 million in cuts, either in salary or in the size of the orchestra; musicians say that management has ignored their proposals for additional savings and revenue.

Musicians voted to authorize a strike on September 18 before agreeing to a month-long contract extension a day later. According to the Inquirer, another temporary extension is unlikely, and management has rejected an offer by the musicians to extend the current contract for a year.

Both sides have said publicly that the other is endangering the future of the famed ensemble. Orchestra chairman Richard Smoot called the current contract "a roadmap to extinction"; Susan Martin, an attorney for the musicians, said, "We will not preside over the demise of this orchestra."