AFSCME Privatization Update

Source: By Mark Melady TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (MA), Thursday, May 8, 2008

The Research Bureau has again urged the city to unload some of its properties, including the airport, the DCU Center, Union Station and the Senior Center, and recommended other cost-saving measures such as outsourcing custodial services, ending paid police details at construction sites, further reducing employee health insurance costs, and limiting police and fire injured-on-duty compensation.

Posted by Info Center at 1:33 PM in Asset Sale/Lease | Custodial | Transportation | Permalink
Tags: Massachusetts

Source: By LESLIE MODICA, Foster's Daily Democrat (NH), Saturday, April 5, 2008

A decision to privatize school custodial work has prompted a formal labor complaint against the school district.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2932, Dover Custodial and Grounds, filed the complaint with the Public Employee Labor Relations Board on March 14, citing several complaints with the process surrounding its collective bargaining process and the district's intent to privatize custodial work.

Posted by Info Center at 3:32 PM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Permalink
Tags: New Hampshire

Source: Service Employees International Union news release, Thu, Apr. 03, 2008

With a growing number of communities nationwide raising concerns about the business and workplace practices of food service giant Aramark, four current and former Aramark employees are launching a national tour today to learn more about the corporation's impact on America's communities. The workers -- janitors and food service workers -- will travel coast-to-coast to meet with parents, community leaders, and fellow Aramark workers in cities including Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

For more information, visit FactsOnAramark.info

Posted by Info Center at 2:56 PM in Custodial | Food Services | Permalink

Source: THE ENQUIRER (OH), April 2, 2008

Mason school officials plan to fight an administrative law judge's recent ruling regarding unfair labor charges filed against the district.

Two years ago, the district contracted for custodial services at the new Mason Early Childhood Center and at an addition to the intermediate school. Doing so is saving about $300,000 annually, said Mike Brannon, assistant superintendent for operations.

The district's chapter of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees filed unfair labor practice charges, alleging that the district refused to bargain with the union on the matter. The union represents groundskeepers and custodial, maintenance and HVAC workers.

Posted by Info Center at 10:56 AM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Permalink
Tags: Ohio

Source: By Jameel Naqvi, Daily Herald (IL), 3/28/2008

Aramark, the contractor that cleans and feeds dozens of suburban schools, was in the hot seat Thursday.

The Illinois House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee held a hearing in Chicago on a litany of complaints against Aramark from workers, parents and union officials.

The Philadelphia-based company did not attend the hearing -- missing a chance to respond to a nationwide campaign to unionize Aramark workers and expose the firm's alleged abuses.

....... Thursday's hearing focused on a report released this month by the Service Employees' International Union, which is trying to add 100,000 Aramark workers nationwide to its membership rolls and 2,000 in the Chicago area alone.

...... The report, titled "Failing Grade: How Outsourcing Vital School Services to Aramark Corp. is Shortchanging Illinois Kids," alleges Aramark pays low wages, provides few benefits and does not adequately clean schools or feed suburban schoolchildren.

Posted by Info Center at 11:09 AM in Custodial | Food Services | Schools K-12 | Permalink
Tags: Illinois

Source: By Mary Beth Almond, C & G News (MI), Feb. 22.

Members of Birmingham Public Schools' custodial and transportation staff are up in arms about the district's exploration of possible changes to school services.

...... On Feb. 5, an alert from the Michigan American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 25 was placed next to the agenda outside the Board of Education meeting room for members of the community to pick up on their way into the meeting.

The flier, endorsed by Michigan AFSCME Council 25 President Albert Garrett and Secretary-Treasurer Lawrence A. Roehrig, stated, "As public school districts consider choosing moving forward with plans to privatize school services, they are treading a well-worn and ill-chosen path filled with pitfalls."

Posted by Info Center at 2:52 PM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Transportation | Permalink
Tags: Michigan

Source: Samantha Broussard-Wilson, Yale Daily News (CT), Friday, February 1, 2008

Aramark, the food-services company formerly employed by Yale University Dining Services, is now facing allegations of mismanagement and poor food quality from cafeteria workers and custodians in New Haven Public Schools.

...... The rally is being organized by UNITE HERE, a union that includes hotel, restaurant and some cafeteria employees and is affiliated with the Federation of Hospital and University Employees, the union for service workers at Yale. Council 4 and Service Employees International Union, both custodial-worker unions, are also involved in the organizing the rally.

...... The Local 287 division of Council 4 had almost 100 percent of its membership sign a petition calling for the Board of Education to fire Aramark, said Larry Dorman, a Council 4 spokesman.

Posted by Info Center at 11:22 AM in Custodial | Food Services | Schools K-12 | Permalink
Tags: Connecticut

Source: By Elizabeth Benton, New Haven Register (CT), Mon, Jan 14, 2008

Nearly 200 custodians working in city schools will petition the Board of Education tonight to terminate its relationship with Aramark Corp, calling the Philadelphia company's performance in New Haven an "unmitigated disaster."

"There's no more working together. There's no more covering for them," said Robert Montouri, president of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 287.

Posted by Info Center at 11:00 AM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Permalink
Tags: Connecticut

Source: By Ellen Gedalius, The Tampa Tribune (FL), December 20, 2007

TAMPA - Chanting "No justice, no peace!" more than 30 union workers, including several city employees, protested outside city hall this morning.

They said Mayor Pam Iorio shouldn't proceed with plans to lay off 100 employees.

In November, Iorio announced 100 people likely would lose their jobs next year when the city privatizes some services. About 50 security officers and 38 janitors are among those targeted.

Posted by Info Center at 11:22 AM in Custodial | Public Safety | Permalink
Tags: Florida

Source: Penny Gurstein and Stuart Murray, with Anisha Datta and Marika Albert, Canadian Centre for Policy Initiatives, October 2007

This report examines two cases of alternative service delivery (ASD) to assess the impact on customer service and the quality of working life for the outsourced workers in BC. Our findings suggest that, contrary to the government's claim that "this is alternative service delivery, not privatization," ASD is a form of privatization. ASD allows partnerships to form between the government and companies that specialize in outsourcing, changing the culture and delivery of public services.

This paper looks at how outsourcing has impacted government services and affected the economic security of the workers involved by focusing on two case studies:

• Outsourcing of "back office" work at BC Hydro to Accenture, including customer services, IT services, human resources, financial systems, purchasing, and buildings services; and

• Outsourcing of administration of the Medical Services Plan and PharmaCare to Maximus.

In both cases, work previously done by public sector employees is now administered by a multinational for-profit corporation.

Posted by Info Center at 4:26 PM in Custodial | Human Resources | Information Technology | Maintenance | Purchasing | Permalink

Source: CUPE (Canada), October 12, 2007 11:26 AM

A private contractor in BC is having a hard time recruiting and retaining people to do the most dangerous, and dirty health care jobs for $12.59 an hour. Imagine that.

To HEU, the solution is simple.

"The provincial government should require health care contractors to provide living wages to their workers," says HEU Secretary-Business Manager Judy Darcy.

But Compass, a British multinational that posted $1 billion in profits last year, apparently really likes the low wage. So they're proposing hiring temporary foreign workers to clean operating rooms and feed patients in Vancouver Island hospitals.

Posted by Info Center at 11:35 AM in Custodial | Permalink

Source: By Adam Wise, Daily Tribune (WI), September 26, 2007

The Wisconsin Rapids School Board elected Tuesday night to fill current custodial vacancies with non-union employees on its own, a change from its recent plan. For the past month, the School Board has contemplated outsourcing its custodians as another measure to cut spending in the district.

This past summer, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local No. 1075 bargained language into its latest contract that limited the school district's ability to outsource only through attrition.

Posted by Info Center at 2:51 PM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Victories | Permalink

Source: By Steve Peoples, Providence Journal (RI), Wednesday, August 29, 2007

The Carcieri administration has selected the Massachusetts firm Hurley of America Inc. to replace scores of housekeeping employees at Eleanor Slater Hospital with private contractors.

....... Yesterday's announcement represents a direct challenge to the General Assembly, which passed a law two months ago as part of the state budget aimed at slowing Carcieri's aggressive push to expand privatization. The law outlines a series of detailed reporting requirements and cost-benefit analyses before the governor can replace state employees.

...... "This is a premeditated shot at the unions prior to Labor Day. I don't know what [the governor] is thinking," said Dennis Grilli, executive director of Council 94, the largest state employees union.

Posted by Info Center at 10:25 AM in Custodial | Health | Permalink

Source: BY LIZ COBBS, Ann Arbor News (MI), Sunday, July 29, 2007

Pinckney school officials weren't trying to lead the way on privatization when they decided to outsource food service in 1976 and bus transportation in 1994. They just wanted to find ways to save money, said Linda Moskalik, assistant superintendent for finance and operations.

......... During a time of budget cuts, declining student enrollment and uncertainty over state funding, many districts have turned to private companies to provide food, janitorial and busing services, and that trend is expected to continue.

Posted by Info Center at 12:33 PM in Custodial | Food Services | Schools K-12 | Transportation | Permalink

Source: By Clayton Hardima, Muskegon Chronicle (MI), Thursday, June 28, 2007

One by one, union members and officials faced the Muskegon Heights Board of Education Wednesday night and made impassioned pleas to board members to reject privatizing school custodial services and save custodians' jobs.

They cited their dedication to their work, years of service and the family feeling they said existed among employees of the district.

......... Bryant estimated that privatizing custodial services would save the district $200,000 to $225,000. If the decision to not privatize is made, the money will have to be found elsewhere. Bryant said the decision would affect 141/2 custodial positions.

Posted by Info Center at 12:09 PM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Permalink

Source: DAVE UMHOEFER, Journal Sentinel (WI), Oct. 13, 2006

In the first test of Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker's privatization proposals, a key County Board committee on Thursday sided with retaining county employees for courthouse security screening and housekeeping. The Finance Committee voted unanimously to delete Walker's plan to privatize more than 70 positions. .........

The vote came after testimony from union leaders and workers who questioned whether private companies would provide the same quality of service as county employees who run courthouse visitors through metal detectors at public entrances and clean county facilities.

Posted by Info Center at 11:37 AM in Custodial | Public Safety | Victories | Permalink

Source: BY NIALA BOODHOO, Miami Herald (FL), Thu, Sep. 28, 2006

Florida International University to move contract janitorial jobs in-house. Janitors at Florida International University will be eligible for salary increases of almost 50 percent and access to healthcare under a new plan to bring the janitorial staff positions back in-house, the state university said Wednesday.

The union that organized janitors at University of Miami, the Service Employees International Union, had been campaigning for similar representation on behalf of the 133 workers at FIU who were contract workers for the university.

Posted by Info Center at 3:20 PM in Custodial | Publicization | Permalink

Source: By SANFORD J. SCHMIDT, The Telegraph (IL), 08/22/2006

GODFREY - A part-time custodian with Aramark, the firm hired last year to clean Alton schools, was charged Monday with felony theft for allegedly stealing four laptop computers from North Elementary School. ......... The Alton School Board last year signed a contract with Aramark in a move to save about $1 million a year. The Alton Education Association reluctantly agreed to drop the custodians from its bargaining unit in exchange for a promise of 10 percent pay raises over four years.

The staff of custodians was reduced from 52 to 42 employees.

A survey of school employees later rated Aramark 3.2 on a scale of 5, prompting complaints from board member Ed Gray that the firm was not keeping the schools clean enough.

Posted by Info Center at 10:14 AM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Permalink

Source: By Jim Dooley, Honolulu Advertiser (HI), Wednesday, May 3, 2006

The operator of a company providing janitorial and landscaping services to the city "stole from the City and County and the taxpayers," a prosecutor said yesterday after Nelson Aguinaldo was indicted on six counts of theft, racketeering and money laundering. "I have no comment," said Aguinaldo, president of Diversified Janitorial Services Inc., in a brief telephone interview. …. The United Public Workers Union, which represents city blue-collar workers, has complained in the past that the city failed to enforce the prevailing wage requirement when it outsourced janitorial and landscaping jobs to the private sector.

Posted by Info Center at 10:09 AM in Custodial | Permalink

Source: By Susan Snyder, Philadelphia Inquirer, Thu, Apr. 20, 2006

...... Also at yesterday's commission meeting, workers who belong to the union representing janitors and bus attendants criticized the district for hiring a private firm to run custodial services in 14 schools. Michael McGinley, president of Local 1201 of the Service Employees International Union, told the commission that Sodexho, a Maryland-based company, had not improved services in the schools and that district workers unfairly were held to higher standards. "Why are we expected to clean 32,000 square feet - 10,000 square feet more than contractors?" he asked. He called the contract with Sodexho "a complete waste of taxpayer money." The district, which hired Sodexho earlier this school year, is paying the firm about $9 million for this school year.

Posted by Info Center at 10:02 AM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Permalink

Source: By PETER GOONAN, The Republican (MA), Monday, April 17, 2006

SPRINGFIELD - A union lawyer is threatening a battle after learning the city may replace night custodians in the school system with an outside cleaning company effective July 1. . .......The Springfield Finance Control Board on Tuesday advertised for bids from companies interested in taking over custodial duties in 45 school buildings on the second shift, 2:30 to 11 p.m. ...... The control board is also considering privatizing cafeteria services and has chosen companies to take over street sweeping and workmen's compensation. Connor said a letter sent by Puccia to custodians last week indicates that privatization is a done deed, and occurs after the custodians settled a seven-year contract with the control board in September.

Posted by Info Center at 2:13 PM in Custodial | Schools K-12 | Permalink

Source: BY KATHY ROUTLIFFE, Niles Herald Spectator (MN), April 13, 2006

Niles Township High School District 219 officials are considering having a public forum to update district parents and residents about the April 6 arrest of a district contract employee in a sexual abuse case involving two Niles North High School students. Arturo Luna, a boys locker room attendant who had worked since last September at Niles North High School is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault for allegedly having sex with two female school students, ages 14 and 16, in one case multiple times. ...... Luna was an employee of Aramark Corp., which contracts with District 219 for food and supplemental services. Aramark fired him as a result of the incident.

Posted by Info Center at 2:17 PM in Custodial | Horror Stories | Permalink

Source: By HENRY L. DAVIS, Buffalo News (NY), 4/1/2006

The University at Buffalo plans to stop outsourcing its custodial work to private companies and return to using unionized employees, school officials said Friday. …. "The problem is the wages," said Michael F. Dupre, associate vice president for university facilities. He said the established minimum prevailing wage for maintenance personnel in the Buffalo area is only $7.03 an hour, which is not high enough to maintain a stable work force. Today, four private firms provide about 135 custodial workers compared to the 70 or so employees still represented by the Civil Services Employees Association Local 602.

Posted by Info Center at 11:44 AM in Custodial | Publicization | Permalink

Source: By Philip Sean Curran, News Record NJ, Wednesday, March 22, 2006 10:55 PM EST

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - A male custodian at Columbia High School was fired for allegedly asking a female student for her phone number, school officials said Monday. More details were not made available. Superintendent of Schools Peter P. Horoschak did not return a phone call seeking comment. The custodian had worked for Aramark, the company that provides custodial services at Columbia. An Aramark spokeswoman did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Posted by Info Center at 11:06 AM in Custodial | Horror Stories | Permalink

Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal - 11:14 AM PST Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006

Sodexho Management Inc. has agreed to pay $61,000 to a custodian it employed at Agnew Development Center in San Jose who complained of sexual harassment by a male nurse, federal officials said Tuesday. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Gaithersburg, Md.-based Sodexho denied wrongdoing in the case but agreed to settle after voluntary mediation efforts. .... According to the EEOC's lawsuit, Sodexho failed to investigate or stop the harassment, and they also retaliated against Sanchez for reporting it. The retaliation included tasking Ms. Sanchez with more difficult work, reducing her workload, and issuing disciplinary write-ups.

Posted by Info Center at 11:36 AM in Custodial | Horror Stories | Permalink

Source: Susan Snyder, Philadelphia Inquirer (PA), Fri, Dec. 30, 2005

The Philadelphia School District has hired a private company to take over the cleaning responsibilities in 22 of its largest high schools - a move that has angered the custodial workers' union. Paul Vallas, district chief executive, said poor attendance and low productivity had spurred the decision this month to take the work away from Local 1201 of the Service Employees International Union.

Posted by Info Center at 10:11 AM in Custodial | Permalink

Source: Katie Oliveri, The Battle Creek Enquirer (MI), Dec 13, 2005

Despite a show of overwhelming opposition from community members, Lakeview's board of education approved 5-1 outsourcing custodial services at the new high school as a cost-saving measure for the district Monday…….. The district now will enter into an 18-month custodial services agreement with Hi-Tec Building Services for $285,948, including benefits, for 10 custodians at the new high school, effective Dec. 27. …. Bill Farmer, union representative with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees representing Lakeview's custodial staff, said he was disappointed at Monday's outcome since he estimated a potential $198,000 savings from the union's proposal. (UB)

Posted by Info Center at 11:02 AM in Custodial | Permalink

Source: Brown Daily Herald (RI). 11/30/05 Section

Martins Maintenance, a janitorial contractor employed by the University, is being criticized by the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union for allegedly assaulting and firing an employee who talked to union organizers. ….. Martins Maintenance was one of several outside contractors hired by the University three years ago when Brown Dining Services extended the hours of some of its retail locations, such as the Gate, said Mark Nickel, director of the University News Service.

Posted by Info Center at 3:37 PM in Custodial | Permalink