Sunday, February 23, 2014

Conyers Concerned Detroit Bankruptcy Plan Will Unfairly Harm Workers


Detroit’s Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr filed a Chapter 9 bankruptcy plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court that proposed a 34% cut to general city retirees’ pensions as well as a 10% cut to police and firefighter retirees’ pensions. After the bankruptcy plan was made public, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.
"In the end, the courts will have the final word on any bankruptcy plan. However, I am disappointed by the Emergency Manager’s bankruptcy proposal that - if adopted - would cut Detroit’s general public employees retirees’ pensions by 34% and police and firefighter retirees’ pensions by 10%. This is not what Detroit’s hard-working public servants deserve. Pensions are earned benefits that our neighbors, friends, and families in Detroit built up over decades of service to the Motor City. Retired general city workers receive a modest payment of around $18,000 a year in earned benefits while retired policemen and firefighters receive just $30,000. Further, pensions are explicitly protected from any cutbacks under Michigan’s Constitution. I urge all parties to come together and continue negotiating to resolve this matter equitably.”

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