DSO Musicians Want To Make A Deal

Striking Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians are calling for a return to bargaining more than three months after walking off the job and after talks with management broke down last month.

The musicians renewed their call at a Wednesday news conference for management to reconsider a compromise proposal announced in December by then-Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin.

It proposed a 3-year contract with compensation of $36 million - down from the previous contract's $48 million but more than the $33 million to $34 million management offered.

Orchestra officials said last week players have refused to negotiate.

The news conference was held with local business owners at the Majestic Caf De in Detroit near Orchestra Hall.

WWJ's Stephanie Davis spoke with managment at some midtown Detroit eateries who say they are losing money because of the DSO work stoppage.

At Union Hall on Woodward Ave., Greg Getta says the lack of traffic as a result of the strike is a directly related to the twenty to twenty-five percent drop in his business.

"We've had to tighten people up -- tighten labor up... and it tightens them [our employees] up. You know what I'm saying?  The servers and stuff like that, they're not making as much because they're not doing as much business," Getta said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.