(AP) — Joseph Volpe is returning to the Metropolitan Opera nearly four years after his retirement to head the company's upcoming labor negotiations.

Volpe worked for the Met for 42 years and ran the company for 16 seasons until Peter Gelb took over as general manager in July 2006. Most of the Met's labor contracts expire at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Gelb said in a statement Friday that Volpe was being brought back "because of his proven skill as a negotiator."

Senior management took a 10 percent pay cut on Dec. 1, 2008, and the rest of administrative staff took a 10 percent cut last Aug. 1. Stagehands who had been due a 2.5 percent salary raise in June delayed it until the 2010-11 season.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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