LOCAL 207 ORGANIZER

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF AFSCME LOCAL 207

313-965-1601, or 796-3376                                  Issue # 47, July 15, 2003                                                afscme207.com

 

We Can Win With United Actions

Bus Drivers Stage Victorious Sickout!

 

On Thursday July 10, hundreds of DDOT bus drivers staged a sickout. Within hours Mayor Kilpatrick and top staff met with the presidents of ATU Division 26 (bus drivers), AFSCME Local 312 (bus mechanics) and AFSCME Local 214 (DDOT clerical and operations).

 

Management agreed to fix the bus air conditioning, rescind suspensions for drivers who were disciplined for refusing to drive buses without working air conditioning. They also agreed to consider workplace violence charges against the new DDOT Assistant Director for wrestling a microphone away from an ATU officer while he was attempting to address his members. There was no mention of discipline for drivers who called in.

 

This sickout was a complete victory for the drivers. It should be a lesson to all city workers, and especially to the officials of Michigan AFSCME Council 25. Council 25 officials act as if Kilpatrick is too strong to fight. But he caved in entirely when a few hundred drivers called in sick. If we coordinate action between all city unions we can win much more. Council 25 should be organizing such actions rather than pushing another sellout contract which will set the pattern for all city workers, including the bus drivers. Unite and fight to win!

 

Attend Public City Council Hearing

On Contracting-Out & Privatization of Water Dept. Jobs

Thursday, July 24 – 4:30 PM – City-County Building – 13th Floor

 

AFSCME Local 207 and other Water Department unions have requested a Public City Council Hearing to show how management is wasting money on suburban contractors who are taking city workers’ jobs. All city workers and interested public should come support our efforts to keep city jobs for Detroit’s youth, and stop the racist union-busting takeover of our entire city.

 

We need union members to come to the meeting prepared to speak about specific examples of the rampant privatization and contracting-out, including the times we have had to go back and redo the contractors’ work. This hearing will be broadcast later on Comcast’s Channel 10, and we should use it as a way to show viewers how Kilpatrick is selling out the city from under all Detroiters’ feet.

 

We will be making a special presentation on the Infrastructure Management Group (IMG) to which Kilpatrick has given offices in the Water Board Building. IMG tells governments how to privatize. They are connected with far right-wing Republican groups which fund racist books and legal attacks on affirmative action. The City Council must force this outrageous situation into the political spotlight and insist that IMG leave now, along with whoever brought them here!

 

Stop New Attempt to Privatize Detroit’s Sewage Incineration

Picket and Attend Public Hearing on Minergy

Tuesday, July 29 – 6:30 PM – Delray United Action Council Center

7914 W. Jefferson – just east of West End (Springwells)

 

Minergy is attempting to get the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to grant them an altered burning permit. This would allow it to add more high-sulfur coal to the while burning sewage sludge currently incinerated by city workers. This unproven process would use the lungs of Detroit’s children as its real-world test lab. It would eliminate 149 city jobs. This is another attempt to give away the city’s and the Water Department’s basic services to corporate raiders. Be there and let them know Detroit doesn’t want Minergy!

 

2003 AFSCME LOCAL 207 MEMBERSHIP MEETING SCHEDULE

MEETINGS HELD 2ND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH, 5 PM, 600 W. JEFFERSON @ THIRD. (EXECPT SEPTEMBER’S MEETING, WHICH WILL BE HELD THE 2ND WEDNESDAY INSTEAD)