The Michigan Daily Vol. LXXXVI, No 4-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Saturday, May 8, 1976 Ten Cents Twelve Pages |Woodcoc supportsCarte Henry Ford jumps on Dem's bandwagon From Staff and WireReports Jimmy Carter was endorsed yesterday by United-Auto Work- ers head Leonard Woodcock, who compared the former Geor- gia governor to the late Presi- v dent Kennedy, and by Ford Motor Co. Chairman Henry - Ford It, who said Carter has "captured the imagination of the American people." Woodcock said he decided to support Carter for the Demo- cratic presidential nomination after they met last February. Woodcock said it was a "gut reaction . . . I was very im- pressed. It reminded me of when I met Jack Kennedy in October of 1959. I was also tre- y mendously impressed with him," he said in his endorse- ment at Metropolitan Airport. CARTER said he believed Woodcock's endorsement "will have a great effect on the Michigan primary" on May 18. "The people want to get somebody outside of Washing- ton to go to Washington to straighten out some problems," auto executive Ford said later at a fund-raising event. Also attending the airport re- ception was Democratic Mayor Coleman Young of Detroit, who LEONARD WOODCOCK, president of the United Auto Workers, anoonoces his endorsement told reporters he was main- of former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter for the Democratic presidential nomination as mer Georgia governor which he Carter looks on. The Georgian is in the state to campaign for the May 18 Michigan presi- announced, "two months ago dential primary. before 'ethnic purity."' HITS RELIABLE REALTY YOUNG referred to Carter s, now-famous statement of sev- eral weeks ago. The former Georgia governor said he op- posed government interference in the "ethnic purity" of neigh- borhoods. Carter picked tip the support of the giants of the auto indus- try and labor on his first cam- paign foray into Michigan for the state's May 18 primary. His chief rival Morris Udall, was busy drumming tip support in the race from rank-and-file un- ion members. Carter said he considers this traditionally - progressive state the key to his presidential as- pirations. "WHAT HAPPENS here on My i 18 will have a profound effect on the outcome of the conven- tion," he told a group of sup- porters that included prominent labor leaders and auto mag- nates alike at the posh Fair- Iine Manor in suburban Dear- born. Carter also predicted to the group that he would win his party's nomination "on the first or second ballot." "My guess is the first ballot," he told the group of 400 sup- porters, who paid $100 a head to attend the Carter fund-rais- ing dinner. "I INTEND to be President," Carter stated. "I don't intend See WOODCOCK, Page 10 .'it TU seeks court injunction By JAY LEVIN The Ann Arbor Tenants Union (TU) filed an injunc- tion yesterday seeking to prevent a local landlord from signing leases unless they are negotiated with the TU. The student-run organization brought the order against Reliable Realty Management Company, a firm the Tenants Union has been rent-striking since February. According to the TU, the rental agency and its owner, Edith Epstein, reneged on last February's recognition agreement which made the Tenants Union the exclu- sive bargaining agent of the terms of the lease used by Reliable. THE TU ALLEGED that Epstein rented her units without the Tenants Union input as stipulated in the recognition agreement. "By signing leases, she's negotiating independent of the Tenants Union and breaking the recognition agree- ment," asserted TU spokesman Robert Miller. Miller added that the TU's action demonstrates that "she (Epstein) can't circumvent an agreement with the Tenants Union." "IT (THE AGREEMENT) was signed by her, it was signed by her lawyer, and it was signed by our lawyer," said TU organizer Larry Cooperman. "And she went ahead and rented on her own." Cooperman added "if we win the injunction, she won't be able to lease without the Tenants Union as a bargaining agent, as agreed upon." A date for the court hearing has yet to be set. Epstein's lawyer, William Raymer, declined comment yesterday, while the landlady, herself, was unavailable. THE RENT STRIKE against Reliable Realty was initiated in February in protest of allegedly inadequate maintenance measures and unreasonable rent. Negotia- tions between the two parties broke down early last month. According to the Tenants Union, the strike is now in a transitory period, due to the expiration of some leases at the end of April and a high number of un- rented units. At its peak during the regular school year, approximately 100 Reliable tenants withheld their rent in a dual escrow fund which now contains about $28,000, according to 'Tenants Union estimates. The Tenants Union alleged Epstein has failed to pro- vide maintenance for striking units, while stepping up repairs for those who do not support the strike. ONE STRIKING tenant, Lisse Palmer, said that the management company had failed to maintain her house on White St. since the beginning of March, and "that's when the gutters were torn down in the ice storm." The Tenants Union cited another poorly maintained property: a house on Prospect St. which experienced sewage flooding in the basement. The tenants of that house, according to the TU, are bringing their case to court. The Tenants Union, revitalized after its victory in the Trony rent strike last month, is seeking a collec- tive bargaining agreement from Reliable. Among the concessions won by the Tenants Union after the four- month Trony action were a collective bargaining agree- ment and an innovative set of grievance procedures designed to increase' tenant input in the resolution of renter-landlord disputes. For subscriptions call 764-0558