Aug. 5 Election Complicates Detroit Strike

Negotiations resumed Sunday toward ending a 5-day-old strike by 7,000 city workers, and a city official said he would seek National Guard protection for replacement workers needed to prepare for an Aug. 5 primary election.

“We don’t have an option on the election,” said Elections Director Ed Wilson. “I’m up the creek. Something like this has never happened before.”

Ballots have to be added to 5,500 voting machines by the end of the week for the primaries in congressional, state and local primaries, Wilson said. He said he would ask Gov. James J. Blanchard today to send in National Guardsmen.

Garbage Dumps Set Up

Those idled by the strike include zoo workers, bus mechanics, public health workers and emergency telephone operators. Six emergency garbage dumps were set up after garbage truck drivers honored picket lines.

Negotiators for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the city resumed talks after failing to reach agreement on a new contract during a Saturday session.

The strike began at midnight Tuesday after a contract extension expired. The negotiations are stalled over wages, with the city offering a 2% increase in the first year of a 3-year pact, and the union seeking a 26% increase during the life of the contract.

Some Hope Seen

“I would generalize last night’s talks that there is some hope there has been movement on the part of the city,” said AFSCME spokesman Phil Sparks.

However, Robert Berg, press secretary for Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young, said: “Neither side is giving any indication that there’s any progress being made.”

Wayne County Circuit Judge Sharon Tevis Finch on Saturday ordered bargainers to negotiate for four hours that day and at least eight hours Sunday. But she decided against ordering workers who staff critical areas, such as garbage pickup and health care, to return to work.

Finch said she would resume hearings today on the city’s suit against AFSCME, its 7,000 members and 5,000 other union workers who are staging a sympathy strike and refuse to cross picket lines. The city argues that Michigan law prohibits strikes by public employees.