RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
NPR's Business News starts with an intermission at the Met. Contracts for 15 of the Metropolitan Opera's unions were set to expire at midnight last night. Shortly after the deadline, Met management announced a lockout won't happen until at least Sunday. The unions, which include musicians, stagehands and electricians, object to cuts in benefits and pensions. The Met's management did reach deals with three unions representing ushers, security guards and building staff, among others. A lockout with the other unions would suspend rehearsals for the new season at the Met which opens in late September. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.