PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians are on strike after unanimously rejecting calls for a 15-percent pay cuts, pension changes and staffing cuts they say are proposed by management.

The union says the consequences of those cuts would be “severe and immediate” and result in musicians leaving and an inability to attract top-notch players.

Last month, symphony president Malia Tourangeau said the orchestra was at a “critical crossroad” because it was losing $1.2 million due to its contract with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for its Broadway series expiring along with a donor’s contributions. The orchestra was projecting a deficit of nearly $1.6 million this season.

Animal rescue groups to mergePITTSBURGH — Two Pittsburgh animal shelters are combining to create what officials say will be the largest animal rescue organization in western Pennsylvania.Officials from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and the Animal Rescue League announced that the merger was approved Thursday. It’ll take effect Jan. 1.