AFSCME workers in green join UAW and other unions at protest against PA 4 in Lansing April 13 11
Release by AFSCME LOCAL 207 Detroit water and public lighting workers
February 2, 2012
John Riehl, president of AFSCME Local 207, city's largest local
DETROIT — AFSCME Local 207’s president John Riehl joined the representatives from three other AFSCME locals in voting against the tentative agreement. Now it’s up to city workers to either reject or accept the concession contracts. Local 207 opposes the concessions for the following reasons:
Most city workers, including Water Department workers, had historic concessions imposed on us in late 2010. Every time we let them force concessions on us, it merely convinces them that we’ll keep accepting them. 1,000 layoffs, 10% pay cuts, at least a 75% total increase in health insurance costs, huge pensions cuts, especially for those with less than 10 years seniority, are unacceptable, AND WILL ONLY MEAN MORE CONCESSIONS.
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder
We do not think the concessions will stop the appointment of an Emergency Manager by the Governor, and/or Mayor Bing and the City Council from signing a “consent agreement.” For months, the press, the State, the City Council, and Bing himself have said that these concessions would only be a temporary fix, and that longer term cuts to our rights as workers and Detroiters will be required. If we agree to concessions now, the next cuts will be starting from the “new normal” established by the concessions that we’re being asked to accept.
Nothing short of a general upheaval of Detroit can stop the on-going second class treatment that our city is subjected to. Petitions and lawsuits can be useful only if the super-rich fear that we will unite and fight to win. We do not want an EM imposed on Detroit.
Detroit APTE VP Cecily McClellan speaks at rally against Benton Harbor EM
But if they dare do it, the imposition of an EM will provide us with an opportunity to concentrate, clarify and unite the battle for Detroit’s future. All our energies and aspirations should be focused on the task of organizing the fight to demand the resources to rebuild and repopulate our city. City workers can and must play a leading role in this fight. If we vote yes to the concessions, we will just demoralize and weaken ourselves. It will be that much harder to fight when the attacks on our jobs and our city continue without missing a beat.
U.S. District Court Judge Sean Cox
We must overturn Federal Judge Cox’s anti-union, anti-Detroit order that separates Water Department workers from the rest of Detroit city workers. If we don’t succeed quickly, the proposed city worker concessions will set the pattern to be brought to Water Department workers next. If we don’t stand together we will fall separately. But together with the people of Detroit we have the numbers, the moral high ground and the power to fight and win.
VOTE NO ON THE CONCESSIONS!
UNITE THE FIGHT FOR DETROIT! FIGHT TO WIN
