Holly joins Genesee County schools as battleground over privatizing jobs
Source: by Linda Angelo, The Flint Journal (MI), Saturday May 24, 2008
........The Sherman Middle School cook -- who has whipped up thousands of cheeseburgers and chicken patties over the past 11 years -- could lose her union job to a private company. It's something that will be decided next month in Holly, which like many districts is ramping up privatizing jobs during tough financial times.
...... Statewide, more than 40 percent of school districts last year privatized at least one of three major services: custodial, food service and transportation, according to Michael LaFaive, fiscal policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Lansing.
....... Some of those who lose their jobs to privatization get hired by the private company but their employment doesn't last long, contended Larry Roehrig, secretary treasurer Michigan AFSCME Council 25.