Detroit Nullifies 48 Union Contracts, Mayor Takes Heat

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In the end, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said, he didn’t really have a choice. He had to sign off on a consent agreement with the state or the city would have fallen under the control of an emergency manager.

“It was either sign the agreement or bring in an emergency manager — those were my options,” Bing said. “So with that as my option I had no choice but to sign the agreement.”

Today is the first time Bing has spoken at length about the agreement that was approved April 4. The mayor spoke with reporters this morning via speakerphone. Bing has been at home recuperating from a March 24 colon surgery and blood clots in his lungs.

In his absence members of Bing’s administration negotiated with state officials and crafted a consent agreement that offered the city no short-term bailout cash and demanded that the city rip up tentative agreements with its 48 labor unions. Bing said he is disappointed, especially about the union contracts, and will work to mend fences with labor leaders.

“That’s a personal relationship and I’ll have to get back involved in that,” he said. “I think they’re intelligent and basically good people. We’re going to have to sit down and once again see what we can agree upon…I was very appreciative of the relationship we have established with labor, and labor is still going to play a key role in bringing this city back.”

Under the consent agreement, if new labor contracts are not approved by July 15 the city can impose terms.

Bing said he hold no animosity toward Gov. Rick Snyder or State Treasurer Andy Dillon, because “my approach was and is, try to do what’s right for the citizens of Detroit.”

“It’s about looking forward, not about looking back,” he said.