Mediator joins labor dispute

Union representatives for Radio City Music Hall’s musicians and its management accepted New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s offer of a mediator, hoping to resolve a labor dispute that has replaced a live orchestra with canned music for the facility’s famed “Christmas Spectacular” program.

Both sides and mediator Frank Macchiarola arrived Monday at the mayor’s Gracie Mansion to try to resolve the 13-day-old dispute. There was no word on how the talks were proceeding.

Although the city cannot get involved in private labor negotiations, the mayor told reporters, “it’s in the city’s interest to have companies succeed and people working and to have the great events that bring tourists to this city continue.”