Vol. LXXXIX, No. 37-S
I ' ~ '~' I~d~ U Il Soturdoy, June 30, 1979
Sixteen Pages
Ann Arbor, Michigan Ten Cents
City workers may strike tonight
I' A Some progress reported
"4
AP Photo
FOURTH OF JULY fireworks will light up the sky beginning at sundown
next Wednesday. This year's display, sponsored by Ann Arbor Jaycees, is
the second largest in the state, and for the first time, will be held at Ann Ar-
bor Airport.
Fieworkto light
sky over A2 airport
By PATRICIA HAGEN Stripp projected a crowd between
Starting at sundown on the Fourth of 20,000 and 40,000 people will view the
July, $9,000 worth of fireworks will light fireworks. He speculated that the
up the sky over the Ann Arbor Airport. crowd may be a bit smaller than usual
"This year's show is going to be a because of the distance of the field from
doozy," exclaimed Ann Arbor Jaycee the city.
Gary Stripp, coordinator of the event. The show is slated to begin at sun-
The annual city fireworks show is being down, about 10 p.m., and will last for 20
held at the Ann Arbor Airport on Air- or 30 minutes. Officials are asking that
port Rd. for the first time this year. people not arrive before 6:30 p.m.
THE JAYCEES present the local In- THE ANN ARBOR Civic Band will
dependence Day light show, which is perform at the airfield beginning at 7
the second largest in the state after the p.m.
annual J. L. Hudson extravaganza on The airport is located on Airport Rd.,
the Detroit riverfront, according to off of Ellsworth Dr., west of State St.
Stripp. A total of $12,000 will be spent on this
"Our finale is tremendous," Stripp year's show. "We struggle like crazy to
commented. He said about 20 per cent earn enough money but we never
of the fireworks will be set off during do ... We never get enough," Stripp
the finale. said. The rest of the money will be
Airport officials and the Jaycees are made up by donations and fund-raising
enthusiastic about the new location for projects.
Wednesday's show. "It's just super out THE JAYCEES are suggesting a $1
there tat the airport)," said Stripp, donation for parking at the airport.
noting the 11 acres of available parking. "There is no other way we can make up
UNTIL THIS year the traditional city the money," Stripp explained.
event has been held at Buhr Park, but . Special parking for the handicapped
traffic, parking, and ground control is available at Pittsfield Township Hall
problems led the Jaycees to find a new near the airfield, to provide easier ac-
ocstion. '.cess for.the handicapped.
By PATRICIA HAGEN
Last-minute talks between city and
union negotiators are scheduled to con-
tinue today in attempts to reach a set-
tlement before the city workers' con-
tract expires at midnight tonight. A
walk-out by the more than 300 union
members would have a serious effect
on most city services except police and
fire.
- Some progress was made during
negotiations with astate mediator
yesterday. Spokespersons for both
sides say a strike is less likely than at
the end of talks Thursday.
NEGOTIATORS HELD another
session last night and talks are planned
to continue today until a union mem-
bership meeting called for 1:30 p.m.
Roger Knight, president of Local 369
of the American Federation of State,
County, and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME) said the union members
would either vote to ratify a contract of-
fer or discuss plans for the strike.
Refuse collection and some other city
services would be discontinued if the
305 AFSCME members walk out.
MAYOR LOUIS Belcher yesterday
presented a contingency plan, to be im-
plemented if there is a work stoppage
by city employees, at a closed meeting
of city council members, city ad-
ministrators, and the city negotiating
team.
Emergency city services will be
provided by 50 members of the Team-
ster's supervisors Union and non-union
personnel.
Belcher said "significant movement
on both sides" was noted and said last
night he is "far more hopeful for a set-
tlement than eight hours ago." -
THE MAYOR estimated a 50 per cent
change of a strike. "This morning I
would have said 99 per cent," Belcher
added.
"We've settled most of the small,
non-economic issues," and are "very
close" on some of the wage levels,
Belcher said.
The city Tuesday offered the union a
five per cent increase for each year of a
proposed three-year contract, but the
union was demanding a 25 per cent
wage hike in a one-year contract with a
cost-of-living provision. Voluntary
federal wage-price guidelines proposed
by President Carter ask that increases
be limited to seven per cent.
AFTER A bargaining session yester-
day morning, AFSCME's Knight said
the city had increased its offer and the
union had lowered its demands.
.Regents cancel
meeting
The University Board of Regents'
special meeting, originally'
scheduled for July 2 at 6 p.m., has
been cancelled.
According to a University
spokesperson, the Regents apparen-
tly could not all meet at that time,
and the meeting will be rescheduled.
A strike is "still a strong possibility"
but not as likely as it had been, Knight
said after yesterday morning's session.
Belcher said it would be possible to
adjust the city's operating budget to
accommodate a wage increase larger
than the six per cent budgeted.
"I'M HOPING it's not much more
than we budgeted," he said, adding,
"We'll find the funds." He said there
were "several major areas" from
which funds could be transferred.
If the AFSCME employees do walk
out, the city will request a court injun-
ction requiring union members to
return to work at the Water Treatment
Plant and Waste Water Treatment
Plant, according to Belcher's con-
tingency plan.
Supervisory peronnel would perform
emergency street and sign repairs, as
See BARGAINING, Page 2
State to
deeule on
hospital
re-.review
request
By JOHN GOYER
The director of the Michigan Depar-
tment of Public Health will respond
Monday to a request from the regional
health planning council that his depar-
tment return plans for a new University
Hospital to the council for re-review.
The regional council last week asked
Governor William Milliken and Health,
Education and Welfare (HEW)
Secretary Joseph Califano to intervene
in the state review of plans for a new
University Hospital.
THE COUNCIL wants Milliken and
Califano to force the Department of
Public Health to return the hospital
plans for re-review.
Department of Public Health Direc-
tor Dr. Maruice Reizen's decision on a
re-review, contained in a letter to the
president of the regional health plan-
ning council, will be made public Mon-
day.
An aide to Milliken said yesterday the
governor is out of the state and has not
yet personally responded to the request
for intervention.
DR. FLOYD Russaw, regional direc-
tor of HEW's Health Resources
Development Division, said Tuesday it
was unlikely his agency would inter-
vene until after the Department of
Public Health makes a formal decision
on the project, and until after the
regional council makes a formal appeal
See HEALTH, Page 2