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Economy
Detroit Mayor, Unions Trash Talk Each Other
2010-02-27
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, struggling to close an estimated $325 million budget hole, has engaged in an open war of words with the city's public employee unions.

At a press conference Thursday, the mayor said resistance from the American Federation of State, Council and Municipal Employees to renegotiated contracts was costing the city $500,000 per month.

"Either they can't read or they can't add or they can't comprehend -- it has to be one of the three," Bing said.

The union shot back, in a press release, claiming Bing was attempting to establish "autocratic rule" over the city and added: "Apparently, Mayor Bing can't or won't read the law, or he can't comprehend the law and his duties. Either way, he is a disgrace to the City of Detroit, and owes an apology to the hardworking families he has insulted while venting his spleen."

What's causing this fuss? The mayor is seeking a 10% pay cut by requiring the estimated 3,600 workers to take 26 furlough days and lose some fringe benefits.

Here's the funny part. The unions aren't upset about the pay cuts, according to the Detroit News:
Union officials say they understand the city's precarious finances and are willing to commit to the furlough days. But they say the city hasn't made a case for many of the fringe benefit changes they want, including changes to vacation, sick time and health care.
And what exactly are those fringe benefits? They include suspending tuition reimbursement until 2012, eliminating bonus vacation days for not calling in sick, no longer letting employees add adult dependents (parents or adult children) to their health care plans and dropping coverage for fertility or impotency drugs such as Viagra. The final item alone reportedly costs the city $1.6 million a year.

AFSCME has resisted the cuts by calling for "fact-finding" missions first, a right that Bing concedes he has to abide by. The process is expected to drag on until at least July, by which time Detroit could be $2.5 million deeper in the hole.

Posted by:Fred

#14  
Posted by: Gliter Mussolini2754   2010-02-27 13:34  

#13  Chapter 9 makes Bing look weak. He has to rely on a Judge to get concessions from the union, and as soon as they are out, the union starts looking for clawback.

And Bing wants to do some pretty courageous things like throwing people out of perfectly good houses in perfectly horrible neighborhoods so that the land can be unincorporated and returned to agricultural use. I doubt any BK judge will sign up for that.

So Bing needs to win a fight now to build his power and reputation to avoid having future fights come to blows. It's hard to imagine a less sympathetic opponent than AFSCME. Winning will make school boards and poor old residents and squatters think twice about fighting instead of taking his deal.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2010-02-27 12:02  

#12  Do You Know Who I Am by Elvis Presley
Posted by: Caesar Gluter6816   2010-02-27 11:50  

#11  #10 You also need to understand that almost all city programs are seen as job programs first and services second. Dan

Only a minor amend. Pls forgive me.
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-02-27 11:42  

#10  You also need to understand that almost all city programs are seen as job programs first and services second. The unions and the recipients of city services will not allow anything to change. Bing should take the city into Chapter 9. Shuffle the cards and start over.
Posted by: Formerly Dan   2010-02-27 11:10  

#9  It needs to be emphasized that Bing has actually run a business, made a profit & had employees. It also needs to be emphasized that Detroit has a rapidly shrinking income. The money ain't there, and is not likely to be there any time soon. All of the unions' blustering and complaining isn't going to change that painful fact.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2010-02-27 10:39  

#8  I only remember him as a pretty good b-baller back in the day. Hope he's still got that good crossover dribble penetration move.

I think he'll need it.
Posted by: AlanC   2010-02-27 10:06  

#7  SteveS is right, Bing is unlike his predeccessors in many regards - I'll give hime the benefit of the doubt. Dennis Archer tried to fix detroit but was often stymied by that clown show in the city council...youtube detroit city council and see that fat woman wearing the tiara and you'll know what I mean - truly surreal.
Posted by: Broadhead6   2010-02-27 09:55  

#6  I can image the "Do you know who I am" echoing down the halls from the Mayor's office and the council chambers. File under Red on Red.

Not quite. Dave Bing doesn't fit the traditional racebaiting sleezebag mold typified by former Detroit mayors like long-term Coleman Young and convicted felon-mayor Kwame Kirkpatrick. Bing does not appear overtly corrupt and being a businessman apparently understands budgets which is why he is banging heads with the unions. Lots of rice bowls in danger of being broken.

Detroit need fixing. He seems to have the will. The question is political muscle. I wish him luck.
Posted by: SteveS   2010-02-27 09:29  

#5  But they say the city hasn't made a case for many of the fringe benefit changes they want, including changes to vacation, sick time and health care.

Because, of course, all these things are absolutely free for the city and don't cost the taxpayers a dime, right?
Posted by: AlanC   2010-02-27 09:09  

#4  High stakes for AFSCME. By making the issue so public other mayors will start to consider going up against the Union. It's popular with non-union voters in an economy where they are suffering layoffs and their masters at AFSCME fight for ED medication. And once one municipality wins big in a high profile case, more will join. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of thugs.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2010-02-27 08:43  

#3  I can image the "Do you know who I am" echoing down the halls from the Mayor's office and the council chambers. File under Red on Red.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2010-02-27 08:27  

#2  I presume frag grenades with radius exceeding 12 paces, Besoeker?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2010-02-27 04:09  

#1  Pistols and grenades, 12 paces and turn.
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-02-27 00:49  

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