AFSCME Sues Bing Over Termination

Bing Terminates 16 of 34 Contracts

See original story at CLICKONDETROIT.COM

DETROIT -- Detroit's largest union is suing Mayor Dave Bing and Director of Labor Relations, Barbara Wise Johnson, claiming they unlawfully terminated provisions of a collective bargaining agreement.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Lawyer Hebert Sanders filed paperwork Tuesday stating that Bing and Johnson did not follow city charter rules and seek final approval for all contracts with the City Council.

Mr. Bing and Ms. Johnson have acted without approval of the City Council to alter the collective bargaining agreement which was properly approved by the Council," said Sanders in a release.

Bing had sent notices to 16 of 34 Detroit bargaining units to inform them that the city had terminated their contracts after no new agreements were reached.

The city no longer will deduct union dues from employee paychecks. That task now is left to the unions.

Unions were notified Oct. 9.

Seventeen of the city's 51 bargaining units had already agreed to new contracts.

Bing had said that the city needs to rework all union deals to help cut into a $300 million budget deficit. He earlier threatened to end some pacts if unions refused concessions that include 10 percent wage cuts.

AFSCME Local 207 President John Riehl said Bing's decision is anti-union.

Bing said he is not trying to terminate unions.

"You would be crazy to think that you have the authority to bust the unions. This is Detroit and that's not going to happen," said Bing.

"It's an attempt, clearly, to try to get the dues not to be paid, and if the dues are not paid, AFSCME can't afford the lawyers, etc., needed to fight this fight," said Michael Mulholland with AFSCME 207.

Bing said he hopes it doesn't come to a strike, but if it does, he said the city is prepared for it.