Detroit Schools To Defer Start Of Employee Contract Talks
DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Public Schools will defer the opening of collective bargaining discussions with unions until after state lawmakers take action on the district's enormous debt.
The district says seven of its eight collective bargaining agreements expire June 30.
But state-appointed transition manager and former bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes says Thursday that "it will be more productive to begin the negotiations" after all sides understand what resources will be available.
The Detroit Federation of Teachers says it's disappointed.
The district has been under continuous state control since 2009. A $717 million plan OK'd by the Senate would keep the old district to retire the schools' debt and create a new district to educate students, while House Republicans have come up with a $500 million proposal.
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