Here’s a roundup of some of the labor activity brewing across industries in the region: Detroit casino workers When you start not being able to feed your family, it’s a problem,” said Maisha Blessett, 50 of Detroit, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employee who was on the picket line Wednesday. “Companies, businesses - they need to pay attention because people are tired. Earlier this year, some 2,000 graduate student workers at the University of Michigan went on strike in the spring and reached a contract just before classes started, and workers last week at General Dynamics who have voted to authorize a strike last week.Īcross the board, workers are demanding higher wages and improved benefits, from health care to retirement - in some cases to see previous concessions restored.
