Detroit officials to ask court to end water department strike over cuts; picket expected again today
The city of Detroit is expected to go to court today to try and obtain an injunction to end a strike by Water and Sewage Department workers. The workers are protesting changes that would cut jobs and save money for the city. The department says that only some of the workers have gone on strike, but the union that represents them says that it was expanding to involve hundreds of employees. The city says that workers on strike, which is prohibited under Michigan law, can be terminated. In past years, teachers have defied the law, and when a large number of workers strike, enforcement is difficult. The planned cuts would cut jobs by 81% and reduce pay and benefits.
See "Detroit officials to ask court to end water department strike over cuts; picket expected again today", Elisha Anderson, Chastity Pratt Dawsey and Matt Helms, Detroit Free Press, September 30, 2012