Wayne Co. slashes paychecks by 20%

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano is imposing a 20 percent pay cut on union employees.

The move comes after two years of negotiating failed to yield an agreement. Earlier this year, Ficano instituted unpaid furlough days after the union rejected a proposed 10 percent pay cut.

Joyce Ivory represents about a thousand workers with AFSCME Local 165. She says a state labor board ruled against that move, but Ficano pressed forward anyway.

"He doesn't care what a judge says, he doesn't care what anyone says," said Ivory. "He thinks he's a dictator and he can do whatever he wants."

In a statement, Ficano called the situation disappointing and devastating, but said he had to cut costs.

Contact Sarah Hulett at sarahhu@umich.edu