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| Economy |
| Union head says bargainers still hope Bing will negotiate |
| 2009-08-30 |
| As some Detroit bus drivers got a stay from the unemployment line, talk within union ranks of a possible strike began to simmer Friday, though union leaders say such talk is premature. Workers with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 207 have invited members of the community to a meeting Wednesday where they expect to discuss the prospect of striking. "Everybody has to be on the same point," said John Riehl, president of AFSCME Local 207. "Nobody's committed to striking." "Everybody hopes that [Mayor] Bing backs off these demands," Riehl said of the 10% pay cut and other concessions Mayor Dave Bing's administration is asking the city's union workers to make. "Bing is unwilling to negotiate in any meaningful way." Bing had planned on laying off 300 employees on Friday, including 113 bus drivers. He changed course Friday morning and instead terminated 205 city workers from various city departments -- but no bus drivers. But that decision isn't permanent. The city will revisit the idea in 30 days. |
| Posted by:Fred |