A short-lived strike by unionized Wayne County public defenders ended Tuesday, Aug. 4, with a tentative deal. The attorneys and other legal services support staff agreed to return to their offices and "resume normal operations."
The brief statement, which the Neighborhood Defender Service’s Deputy Executive Director Shannon Anglero sent to the Free Press on Tuesday did not detail what, exactly, was in the agreement, but said "we are excited to welcome" union members back.
Public defenders, attorneys who represent clients who often cannot afford legal services, and unionized support staff, went on strike after they were unable to reach an agreement last month and opted, instead, to begin picketing outside the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center.
The Free Press left messages union bargaining committee member Ashley Munger.
The workers are part of UAW Local 2325 − Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys.
The contract sticking points had been over health care and wages.
In Wayne County, the lawyers handle about half of the defendants who can’t afford representation, and when the 60 or so lawyers in Detroit went on strike late last month, that left only about 14 to 16 supervisors to take over their caseloads.
The union, the Free Press reported, has been seeking to maintain a current benefit of no-premium, no-deductible health insurance and avoid proposed cost-of-living wage adjustments they say essentially result in pay cuts amid inflation.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Public defenders in Detroit agree to end strike, go back to work
