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ISHPEMING -- Ishpeming city employees took their picketing for a new contract to the next level and held a rally before Wednesday evening's Ishpeming City Council meeting. They wanted to prove that they have plenty of support for a new contract.

At the rally, members of the local American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees showed up, as well as members from neighboring municipalities and members of the public. They filled KD Hall at Saint John's Church to prepare for what they hope will be their final picketing.

"We really haven't had any face-to-face contact with the council which has been part of our frustration," said John Thomas, chief negotiator for the AFSCME.  "We gave a proposal at the last negotiations, and they've waited till tonight to decide what they're going to do with that proposal."

Tonight they got the face time they longed for and made what they want clear:  new contracts with better wages and better health care benefits.  But despite all the public support, Mayor Gary Nelson isn't convinced that the city can afford such a thing.

"While I can appreciate the fact that they're trying to raise local support, the council is faced with the tough task of trying to provide a fair contract to the employees while, at the same time, trying to provide something that the city can afford," said Nelson.  "Trying to find the happy medium sometimes is difficult."

The local AFSCME backing the city workers thinks the mayor is discriminating against them.

"He believes that we have people working for this city that are uneducated and undeserving of anything," said Shana Alderton, director of field services for AFSCME.

City employees hope their Wednesday night rally will change the council's views before their scheduled mediation Thursday morning at 10 a.m., when they need to come to a conclusion about their contracts.

"That's why we're here; to let the council know that we do have the public behind us," Thomas said.  "The public is in full support of us, and we want to let them know that we're willing to come to the table and come up with a resolution to negotiations.  We want this to be done and over with."

Ishpeming City Council workers are continuing to work under the terms of their old contract.  Council discussions pertaining to employee contract negotiations were held afterwards at a closed door meeting, and council members wouldn't comment on the subject. 

Although city employees and the city council don't agree on much when it comes to contract negotiations, they do agree on one thing:  they both want to end the controversy as soon as possible.