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DETROIT (Reuters) – The musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, who have been striking since October, reached a tentative agreement with management this weekend and agreed to return to work Thursday.

The 80 members of the DSO will vote on a new labor contract Thursday and results are expected Friday, said Greg Bowens, a spokesman for the union. The union's bargaining committee has recommended the musicians vote for the new agreement.

Union officials met with managers this weekend for 27 hours to hammer out a contract. Bowens declined to describe the details of the agreement

that will put up for vote this week. "It's been a challenge for everybody, but now it's in the hands of the members," he said.

Rehearsals for this weekend's concerts will resume Thursday. The repertoire will include Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World."

Orchestra management and the 80 musicians have been tussling over pay and how much of the orchestra's time should be devoted to community outreach.

Five musicians have left the orchestra to take positions elsewhere, Bowens said