Detroit Bankruptcy Would Hit Workers, Pensioners Hardest

This week, a federal bankruptcy judge is hearing arguments about whether the city of Detroit can declare bankruptcy and throw out its pension commitments to city workers.

AFSCME, which represents city workers, the UAW and other unions are challenging this push to bankruptcy, especially since it will pay banks and other financial institutions ahead of city workers and pensioners, who receive around $1,000 a month.

To get the straight facts and real stories of Detroit's bankruptcy, visit AFSCME's website at www.truthaboutdetroit.com.

What happens in Detroit matters. It matters to working people, to small business, to everyone who played by the rules and now is in real danger of losing everything they worked for. What Gov. Rick Snyder (R) and his emergency manager Kevyn Orr have put in play in Detroit is absolutely and morally wrong.

Detroit is absolutely in a tough place. But instead of putting all of the burden on city workers and retirees and small business, Snyder could pursue federal funds, the same way the federal government saved GM, Chrysler and countless workers and communities. That plan was a big success. The people of Detroit deserve at least the same opportunity.

Watch CWA President Larry Cohen talk about the Detroit bankruptcy challenge on The Ed Schultz Show.

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