More than 80 NDSU members who work in Detroit are participating in the strike, which began at 9 a.m. outside the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center. (WDIV)
DETROIT – A union representing more than 230 public defenders who provide legal services for low-income residents in Wayne County and two other states went on strike Friday, following stalled contract negotiations with management.
The Neighborhood Defender Service Union (NDSU), a chapter of UAW Local 2325 – Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys, serves clients in Harlem, the Bronx, and San Marcos, Texas, in addition to the Detroit area.
More than 80 NDSU members who work in Detroit are participating in the strike, which began at 9 a.m. outside the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center on Russell Street in Detroit. A simultaneous strike will also be held by NDSU members in New York, according to the union.
Managed by the Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS), NDSU members represent low-income clients in criminal, family defense, housing, and immigration matters
Union leaders say the decision to strike was a result of NDS management’s failure to maintain the long-standing benefit of no-cost health insurance for employees over the term of the pending three-year contract. The contract also offers salary scales with a 1% cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) over three years — which members say would result in wage cuts over time due to rising inflation.
Several local officials are expected to rally with NDSU workers in Detroit on Friday, including state Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Township), state Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) and others.
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