New York’s Metropolitan Opera has come up with a novel idea to help weather the pandemic.

Not only is it planning to continue streaming performances, it is now offering many of its employees their first paycheck in months, but only if their unions agree to long-term pay cuts.

Many of the Met’s employees haven’t had a pay cheque since April.

The Met projects that even after the pandemic subsides, ticket sales will be depressed for several years. A recent study concluded that New York City isn’t likely to reach its pre-pandemic tourism levels until 2025.