AFSCME's Garrett: Detroit Mayor Bing Refuses to Come to Table!

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Nov 04, 2011, 04:15 ET

DETROIT, Nov. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Albert Garrett, President of Michigan Council 25 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement:

"Detroit Mayor Dave Bing continues his track record of politically motivated bluster and distortion. Now he claims the City of Detroit Unions won't come to the bargaining table! The truth is very different.

"The City of Detroit has continually refused to meet with AFSCME regarding health care, as provided in the contract.

"AFSCME has informed the City of Detroit regarding a prescription drug company that could save the city $19 million per year. The city will not respond.

"The City of Detroit lavishes approximately $344 million on contractors every year. Yet the city has not demanded the same ten percent cut from contractors that the city has imposed on AFSCME. This would represent a savings of $34 million per year.

"All City of Detroit employees should pay their fair share in these difficult times - and that includes police, firefighters, political appointees, and non-union employees.

"Mayor Bing, wake up. Just because you refuse to hear other ideas does not mean you are right, or that you're going to become a Local Dictator or Emergency Manager and force your ideas on the people."

Albert Garrett is also Michigan Vice President for AFSCME International. Michigan AFSCME Council 25 represents more than 60,000 public workers across Michigan. AFSCME International represents 1.6 million public workers nationwide.

http://laborweb.afscme.org/sites/MI_C_25

SOURCE Michigan AFSCME Council 25, AFL-CIO