Detroit water and sewer workers protest cuts - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Detroit water and sewer workers protest cuts

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Protesters march outside a wastewater treatment plant in Detroit on Tuesday.  (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com) Protesters march outside a wastewater treatment plant in Detroit on Tuesday. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
DETROIT (WJBK) -

Local 207 members were rallying Tuesday outside a wastewater treatment plant on Jefferson in protest against cuts announced last week by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's office.

"Our members are very angry because the mayor is trying to put a pay cut and trying to cut our benefits in the water department.  We're very angry at the mayor and the water department," said John Riehl, president of Local 207.

There have been rumors of a strike.  Have they decided if they're going to strike yet?

"Our members are very angry, and I think anything's possible here."

"These are just people out here that come to work every day and do their jobs, and we get vilified every day," said one worker.  "They say our benefits are too good, that we're greedy and whatnot.  We've been taking cuts for the last twelve years."

Does Riehl feel like the union's voice is being heard?

"Now that our members are marching, yeah, our voice will be heard."

What's next?

"We're thinking about more rallies and anything's possible.  We're not going to take this cut."

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