Hundreds of Detroit workers protest Bing's proposed cuts
Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News
Monica Smith, 25, of Detroit, an organizer with By Any Means Necessary and a recent Wayne State University law graduate, shares her feeling about Bing's proposed cuts. (Elizabeth Conley / The Detroit News)
Hundreds of union workers and supporters gather in front of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center on Wednesday to protest Mayor Dave Bing's proposed cuts. (Elizabeth Conley / The Detroit News)
An unidentified man holds a sign during the protest. (Elizabeth Conley / The Detroit News)
DETROIT - In what is considered one of the biggest protests outside of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in recent history, hundreds of city workers picketed, showing their angst over the proposed cuts by Mayor Dave Bing.
Bing said he will lay off 1,000 workers in the next few weeks and needs the city's unions to take a 10 percent pay cut by Aug. 28 to stave off receivership and shrink a budget deficit estimated at $350 million.
"These layoffs are unfair to a lot of people," said Tim Barbee, vice president of AFSCME Local 229, which represents the fleet maintenance workers in most departments except D-DOT and water. "They should start at the top. Our people out here do a good job every day. We're the backbone of the city."
Union workers began to gather shortly after 4 p.m. with signs that read "Mayor Resign Now" and "No Pink Slips." Bing's opponent in the Nov. 3 general election, Tom Barrow, told the group it's time to take the city back.
"I know what it is to feel what you're feeling," Barrow said. "He is not one of us. This is a part of a plot to regionalize Detroit. We've got to stand up and take back this city."
Officials said the city's deficit could grow this year because revenue is down about $100 million because of declining taxes and fees. The mayor has said the city will not be able to pay its bills by Oct. 1 unless the unions agree to the concessions. Other options include closing City Hall one day a week. But even if the unions agree to compromise, Bing said a large-scale reduction in the city's 13,000-member work force is inevitable.
"(The cuts) would mean a standard of living reduction. I'm very frustrated," said John Lilley, 35, a water department worker who lives on the city's east side.
The afternoon's session was called by AFSCME Local 207, a union that represents water and sewerage department employees. President John Riehl told members the issue is bigger than just the unions. Riehl said Bing's cuts are about conditioning Detroiters to accept less city services.
"We know this isn't a battle just for the unions, but for our city. This is the battle for Detroit," Riehl said as members chanted "vote him out" in the background.
Retired city worker Dee Dee Harris said she's concerned Bing may go after her pension next.
"We've been giving back since Coleman Young was in office," said Harris, who retired in 2003. "We give back, and we never get anything back. I didn't think he was going to be like this."