School custodial and maintenance contract prevents possible privatization

Source: By George Morse, EastBayRI.com (RI), 12/3/09 

EAST PROVIDENCE - In a split vote Tuesday night the East Providence City Council approved a new, three-year extension to a collective bargaining agreement with Local 2969 Rhode Island Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, a unit representing school department custodians and maintenance personnel.

..... By the time an agreement was reached, the union's concessions made them cheaper than private contractor SSC Service Solutions (a bidder for the job) by as much as $117,000 a year. Also, Mr. Barham said that since the school department looked at private groups, parents have "vehemently" opposed having private workers in schools.