New York ? A dancers union says the current roster of Rockettes shouldn’t be kicked out of Radio City Music Hall.

The corporate owner of the landmark concert venue wants to replace the standing roster of Rockettes with a system of open auditions. The dancers with the trademark high-leg kicks have been working without a contract since February.

Talks are scheduled to resume Monday, said John Hall, chief negotiator for the American Guild of Variety Artists.

The 75-year-old dance troupe is a fixture in New York City entertainment and is best known for its performances during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

The Rockettes’ performances in New York could be jeopardized if an agreement isn’t reached, Hall said.

Cablevision Systems Corp. has offered buyouts to dancers on Radio City’s roster of 41 Rockettes. New productions would use open auditions, with at least half the slots filled by dancers from the previous year’s show.

That system is already in place for Rockettes who work outside New York. Many cities, including Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, hold Rockettes Christmas programs.

Cablevision declined to comment on the contract talks. The debt-laden cable conglomerate said Thursday it was slowing spending on its cable systems, cutting staff and plans to close some Wiz electronics stores.

Mikyl Cordova, a spokeswoman for Radio City Music Hall, wouldn’t comment on the talks but said Radio City was looking forward to its Christmas special. “The Radio City Rockettes are the crown jewel of Radio City entertainment,” she said.

Hall said the New York Rockettes earned $20,000 to $24,000 for their 15-week work schedule and would be offered $3,000 for every year of employment.

“Why are you doing this to people who have served you so well and make so little money?” Hall said. “Not one time in all the years that the Rockettes have been there has there been one grievance, has there been one threat of firing because of their inability to perform.”

Cablevision offered buyouts worth $45,000 each to the 10 dancers employed more than 10 years. Hall called the offer inappropriately low, noting the Rockettes rejected $100,000 buyouts several years ago.