Some city union contracts nixed

http://freep.com/article/20091021/NE...ontracts-nixed

Bing spokesman says negotiations possible

BY ZLATI MEYER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

After months of threats and talk of impending financial doom for the city, Detroit officials have terminated the contracts of about a third of the city's 51 unions.

But so far, all that means is that unions will have to collect dues on their own.

Edward Cardenas, Mayor Dave Bing's spokesman, said Tuesday evening that 16 of the 34 bargaining units that hadn't yet reached agreements with the administration were sent letters Oct. 9, explaining that the city would no longer take union dues out of those employees' paychecks. That would take effect 10 days after the letters were sent.

However, Cardenas said, Bing's team remains willing to negotiate with those union groups. Seventeen other unions already have concluded contract talks with the city.

Detroit, expecting a $300-million deficit, has reduced hours on bus lines, laid off more than 400 workers and required employees to take furloughs.

The city's actions come as Bing faces re-election next month and as spending cuts loom for the state government and other municipalities across Michigan.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 207 is among the Detroit unions still in talks with the city, union president John Riehl said late Tuesday.

"It's a kind of an antiunion tactic they use to try to pressure us to accept a concessions contract," he said. "It's not working. They're not moving their position, so it's difficult to get any kind of settlement."

Now, unions will mail bills directly to members, according to Riehl. The added step makes collecting dues more difficult.

Back on Oct. 6, Bing threatened to end all city contracts and force concessions on the unions if agreements weren't reached within 30 days.

Riehl, however, questioned that cutoff date. "I don't understand what his deadline is," he said. "They have no connection to reality."

Cardenas wouldn't comment about the timetable.

Contact ZLATI MEYER: 313-223-4439 or meyer@freepress.com

The same tactic was used years ago to try to force a contract on unionized city workers. The City refused to collect union dues for those city workers so the union would be financially stressed. Until a contract was finally settled, union members were "voluntarily" mailing in their dues to the union. Very few did. After the contract was settled and union dues were being collected again via the City, union members paid a "reinstatement" fee of $5 or $10. Those members who had supported the union had paid several hundred dollars out of their own pocket in union dues while the vast majority didn't pay anything.

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Originally Posted by Zacha341

http://freep.com/article/20091021/NE...ontracts-nixed

Bing spokesman says negotiations possible

BY ZLATI MEYER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

After months of threats and talk of impending financial doom for the city, Detroit officials have terminated the contracts of about a third of the city's 51 unions.

But so far, all that means is that unions will have to collect dues on their own.

Edward Cardenas, Mayor Dave Bing's spokesman, said Tuesday evening that 16 of the 34 bargaining units that hadn't yet reached agreements with the administration were sent letters Oct. 9, explaining that the city would no longer take union dues out of those employees' paychecks. That would take effect 10 days after the letters were sent.

However, Cardenas said, Bing's team remains willing to negotiate with those union groups. Seventeen other unions already have concluded contract talks with the city.

Detroit, expecting a $300-million deficit, has reduced hours on bus lines, laid off more than 400 workers and required employees to take furloughs.

The city's actions come as Bing faces re-election next month and as spending cuts loom for the state government and other municipalities across Michigan.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 207 is among the Detroit unions still in talks with the city, union president John Riehl said late Tuesday.

"It's a kind of an antiunion tactic they use to try to pressure us to accept a concessions contract," he said. "It's not working. They're not moving their position, so it's difficult to get any kind of settlement."

Now, unions will mail bills directly to members, according to Riehl. The added step makes collecting dues more difficult.

Back on Oct. 6, Bing threatened to end all city contracts and force concessions on the unions if agreements weren't reached within 30 days.

Riehl, however, questioned that cutoff date. "I don't understand what his deadline is," he said. "They have no connection to reality."

Cardenas wouldn't comment about the timetable.

Contact ZLATI MEYER: 313-223-4439 or meyer@freepress.com

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I like it. Why should the city do work for an uncooperative union. If the city spends 1 minute processing this they are spending too much time on it.

I woudl however support the city charging the unions a fee to process and collect dues on their behalf. It would be cheaper for the unions and be a source, albeit nominal, of revenue for the city.

The collection of union dues by the City was part of the collective bargaining agreement they had with the unions. When the contracts lapsed, the City used that opportunity to not collect union dues. All other aspects of the lapsed contract were honored.

To not collect union dues is a change from what the City has been doing. Now, knowing how poorly the City handles change. What are the odds that the city is going to lose more money trying to adjust the checks than it would staying as is?

Like I said earlier in regards to Bing, he's giving them enough chances to come to the table. Now it will come down to the same pain as the city's experiencing. Hard to pay your union staff without dues money...