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Detroit Musicians Offer To Return Without Contract
The striking musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra say they will return to work without a contract in an effort to end a nearly five-month walkout.
Musicians’ spokesman Karl Pituch said Tuesday that they’re offering to submit unresolved contract issues to binding arbitration and play while those issues are resolved. He says musicians and management would need to negotiate terms of that return.
A message seeking comment was left with orchestra spokeswoman Elizabeth Weigandt. She earlier said that an announcement by the musicians about a possible return was “an encouraging development” but that management couldn’t respond until it had all of the details.
Musicians walked off the job Oct. 4. Management suspended the remainder of the season Feb. 19 after musicians rejected what management described as a “final offer.”