Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Ora Mae Mott worked for the city of Detroit in the Finance Department for 30 years. She is 81 years old and her monthly pension is 1100 dollars.[/caption]
“‘Stand with Detroit’ if you believe in fairness for retired cops, fire fighters, librarians, bus drivers and city employees across Detroit – over profits for Wall Street.
“‘Stand with Detroit’ if you believe that those who have played by the rules and worked hard to serve their city for their entire lives shouldn’t be the ones sacrificing the most.
“‘Stand with Detroit’ if you believe bond insurers and Wall Street executives have no business getting paid before retirees get their $900/mo. pension.”
DETROIT — American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has launched the Stand with Detroit campaign and petition, as the testimony in the Detroit bankruptcy eligibility trial wraps up this week, with serious implications for the people of Detroit.
Unions fear the negative impact a bankruptcy will have on pensioners — as suggested by Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, where workers and retirees will receive 10 cents on the dollar and a reduction in benefits — will go unnoticed.
“We've heard a lot from Gov. Rick Snyder and EM Orr, there has been almost no discussion of those who will be most affected — the workers, retirees, and small business owners who helped build Detroit and make it run every day,” said an AFSCME spokesperson.
As a result AFSCME has produced a video of city workers and retirees’ testimonies.
“These real stories from real people in Detroit help put the true costs into perspective,” said Rachel Wolf.
National AFSCME President Lee Saunders said the potential bankruptcy is not solely a Detroit crisis.
“It’s an American crises,” stated Saunders, on the Stand with Detroit Web site. “Financially devastated cities all across our nation are now struggling for their survival. The outcome in Detroit affects all of us and that’s why AFSCME is calling for an urban agenda to strengthen our great cities.”
Saunders said AFSCME will not give up on Detroit or the workers who built the city.
They’re asking all Americans to sign the petition to support Detroit.
Watch the video of Detroit workers and retirees here: http://www.standwithdetroit.org/#watch-the-video
For more information or to sign the petition visit standwithdetroit.org
-Staff report
