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Detroit — Detroit Water and Sewerage workers continued to picket outside the city's wastewater treatment plant Thursday, even as the department moved to terminate more than 30 employees who started Sunday's strike.
Department officials confirmed that Director Sue McCormick sent letters to 34 employees notifying them of their immediate suspension and pending termination for illegally walking off the job.
"The letters, sent via certified mail, informed the employees that … they engaged in gross misconduct that endangered public health and safety
by unlawfully abandoning their jobs at the plant," the department said in a statement.
by unlawfully abandoning their jobs at the plant," the department said in a statement.
"The 34 employees are suspended without pay and their employment will be terminated effective October 10. The individuals were ordered not to enter on to any (department) property and directed not to misrepresent themselves as department employees in good standing during the suspension period."
and directed not to misrepresent themselves as department employees in good standing during the suspension period."
The suspended workers must request a hearing by Friday if they want to contest the charges.
The suspensions didn't appear to lessen the strikers' resolve Tuesday afternoon. About 60 pickets grilled hot dogs outside the plant as they waved signs at passing vehicles — many of which honked in support.
— many of which honked in support.
"We look at it like they're heroes," said Izzo Green, 33, of Detroit, who has worked at the plant for five years. "They stood up for us, now we've got to stand up for them."
Conditions inside the plant are tough, said Michael DePriest, who was on the picket line Tuesday.
DePriest, 33, an 11-year veteran of the plant, said there is no available drinking water inside the waste treatment center and he works without air conditioning in an area where temperatures can rise to more than 100 degrees. The 10 percent pay cuts imposed on city workers hurt too, he said.
"They treat us like slaves. They don't care about us," DePriest said.
A federal judge on Monday ordered the pickets back on the job, but workers stayed on the picket line Tuesday in defiance of the judge's order. About 450 people work at the plant.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121003/METRO01/210030364#ixzz28HMKD9Ag
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