AFSCME's McNeil: 'Feckless Five' on Detroit Council Gave State a Blank Check

DETROIT, April 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Edward L. McNeil, AFSCME Negotiator for City of Detroit units and Special Assistant to Albert Garrett, President of Michigan Council 25 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement:

"Union members in the City of Detroit workforce are upset and dismayed at the conduct of the five City Council members who voted to approve the consent agreement between the City and the State," said McNeil.  "These Feckless Five voted to approve a deal which did not include a budget.  They gave the State a blank check!  This agreement will cost the City at least $1 million additional annually, simply to fund the new committee and appointed administrators!

"At the same time, the Feckless Five have refused to consider the resolution approving the concessionary agreements reached between the City and the Coalition of Unions," continued McNeil.  "The Coalition, consisting of 33 Unions, negotiated concessions which would save the City $22 - 25 million in the first year, and $66 million or more overall.  We did not have to agree to open our contracts and engage in concessionary bargaining, but we did, because we recognized that the City needs our help.

"The Coalition Unions are now holding emergency meetings to update the membership and to talk about strategy as we proceed from this point," concluded McNeil.

The Coalition of Detroit Unions includes: AFSCME, ASSMC, ACDS, APTE, BCTC, DITIA, DOTFAA, DOTFAA, IUOE Local 324, SAAAA, SEIU, IBT, UAW-PAA, UAW-LA, and UAW-CPI.

Michigan AFSCME Council 25 represents more than 60,000 public workers across Michigan.  AFSCME International represents 1.6 million public workers nationwide.

SOURCE The Coalition of Detroit Unions