Detroit police warn visitors

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DETROIT, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Detroit police officers are campaigning against proposed budget cuts that would cut their pay and increase their hours.

Some 300 plain-clothes officers handed out literature urging people to vote against an emergency manager law ballot proposal and for the collective bargaining ballot proposal outside Comerica Park Saturday, The Detroit News reported.

The Detroit Police Officer's Association and the city of Detroit are currently at odds over a new contract that calls for 10 percent pay cuts and 12-hour shifts for police officers. The current contract for the union's 2,130 members expired June 30.

"The city is getting more dangerous," said DPOA President Joe Duncan. "In fact, the only thing I know that's going down in the city of Detroit is my paycheck and my membership."

In an attempt to save $350 million during the current fiscal year, Detroit lawmakers also decided to make changes to its heathcare plan with increased out-of-pocket costs and changes to pension and work rules.

Duncan said the move by the city is equal to union busting and further cuts to police would be disastrous.

"What you are seeing now is when businesses put profit before the welfare of the people," said Duncan. "What the city is doing is putting the safety of the residents and people visiting this city in jeopardy."