Candidates pledge support for city workers as ASME Local 369 seeks contract

Ann Arbor’s municipal workers, represented at the forum by reference to ASME Local 369, have been without a contract since January 2026, and candidates were asked where they would place employee compensation among budget priorities.

Ashley Hall said supporting workers who maintain roads, parks and water systems is a top-level priority; she noted many municipal workers have gone without raises and said fair contracts and collective bargaining deserve city support.

Ryan Bartholomew said he would join worker demonstrations and stood with transit workers, teachers and nurses demanding fair pay. He criticized the current council and mayor for taking a pay increase while many municipal employees had not received raises.

Neither candidate detailed specific budget tradeoffs or line‑item funding sources; both framed employee compensation as central to the city’s ability to recruit and retain staff and to provide services.