Striking DSO Musicians To Vote On Final Offer
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Striking Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians will vote on management's final offer. Musician Karl Pituch said during a news conference Thursday that members would attend an afternoon meeting and hear recommendations by union officials.
Pituch said online voting would begin 7 p.m. Friday and continue Saturday, when results were expected. The vote would be subject to a 72-hour ratification process. However, management had set a 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon deadline.
Management had requested an answer by Thursday. Symphony spokeswoman Elizabeth Weigandt said Thursday afternoon that management will respect the voting process and wait for a response on the offer.
Musician and bargaining committee member Joe Goldman said significant differences remain between the union and management but he says the musicians are grateful for the mediators.
"It was Dan Gilbert, Matt Cullen, Senator Levin and Andy Levin... Those four people spent, just on Friday and Sunday, over 24 hours working with us. So, they certainly were going beyond the call of duty to try and resolve this agreement," Goldman said.
The walkout began Oct. 4 and threatens to shut down the concert season scheduled to end June 5. Management declared an impasse Sept. 1 and began implementing a pay cut.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
