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