the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Aug 17, 2009
Detroit city workers are hopping mad about proposed cuts, and they’ve shown it.
About 200 bus drivers and supporters protested a plan to cut bus service completely on Sundays, and drastically cut it back on Saturdays. Other groups of workers, including water department workers and teachers, have also protested proposed cuts in their areas. Mayor Dave Bing threatens massive layoffs unless city workers take massive pay cuts.
Workers in Detroit who depend on buses to get around will be stranded without ways to get to their jobs or shop for groceries. And layoffs for other city workers will mean all sorts of services will go down the tubes.
Bing says the city has a budget deficit. But he found millions to give to Meijers, a grocery store chain. He can find the way to give millions in new tax breaks to General Motors so they’ll keep their headquarters in Detroit–when they weren’t even talking about moving out!
One worker, quoted in a local paper, said it all: “WE didn’t blow the money. Why are they punishing us?”
Detroit city workers and residents don’t have to accept Bing’s punishment. Another protest against the proposed bus service cuts is planned for Wednesday, August 19 at the Spirit of Detroit statue downtown. A fight by any workers in Detroit is in the interest of all.