beat privatization
DESCRIPTION
Beat Privatization v2-VL.ppt. Beat Privatization. With Peacetime organizing. What do we know about privatization?. “…privatization refers to the transfer of any government function to the private sector - including governmental functions like revenue collection and law enforcement.” - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
WITH PEACETIME ORGANIZING
Beat Privatization
Beat Privatization v2-VL.ppt
What do we know about privatization?
“…privatization refers to the transfer of any government function to the private sector - including governmental functions like revenue collection and law enforcement.”
-Wikipedia
The extent of the threat – K-12
% of U.S. K-12 school districts with some privatization
Source: NEA ESP Member Surveys: 2002 and 2007
Job Group Percent Job Group Percent
Transportation 30% / 31% Custodial 13% / 13%
Food Service 25% / 24% Health Services
13% / 13%
Security 18% / 17% Paraeducators 12% / 9%
Technical Svcs. 18% / 17% Admin./Clerical 9% / 7%
Skilled Trades 16% / 14%
The extent of the threat - lately
What’s been happening since the deep recession started a few years ago?
Source: Michigan Education Association
The extent of the threat – Higher Ed
% of Higher Ed institutions that had some privatization
Source: NEA ESP Member Surveys 2007
Service Percent Service Percent
Food service 57% Transportation 17%
Skilled trades 29% Security svcs. 16%
Technical services
28% Clerical svcs. 16%
Custodial services
28% Health & Stud. Svcs.
9%
ESP privatization comes in different packages
Selected services- ongoing or one-time
Management onlyTotal contracting out
Some major players
Transportation: First Student – subsidiary of First Group, plc (based in Great Britain), $9.52 billion in sales
Food service: Sodexo, Inc. – subsidiary of Sodexo (based in France), $19.96 billion in salesChartwells – subsidiary of Compass Group, plc (based in Great Britain), $21.40 billion in sales
Custodial/maintenance: Aramark (based in US), $12.30 billion in sales
Beyond our ESP jobs – in schools
Other services - health, speech, special education, etc.
Vouchers, charter schools
Beyond our ESP jobs - Other govt. services
Parking (Chicago)Toll roadsPrisons - Corrections Corporation of America
Why do they do it?- Cost
Privateers always say they’re going to save money. Why is this often not true?
Why do they do it?- Management issues
Reduce management workload, avoid dealing with in-house problems
Why do they do it?- There’s $$ to be made!
Huge companies are involved
Favoritism/nepotism/corruption
Why do they do it?- To weaken us!
The privatization movement is driven by anti-government, anti-union, anti-public employee ideology
Why is privatization a bad idea?
Our jobsImpact on the quality of
education – we are essential parts of one education workforce that is serving the whole child
Loss of accountability and control, dependency on the contractors
CorruptionCost
When do we start to fight privatization?
The Privatization Continuum
No hint of privatization(prevention)
Complete privatization
(you’re fired!)
Investigation(studies,
proposals)
When do we get involved?
Be proactive – inoculate against the privateers!
Call your UniServ Director right away. Don’t wait until they say “We’re going to privatize you!”
Peacetime organizing- crafting our message
We have power and we can use it
We live hereWe work hereWe vote here
Organize!
Using our power – electoral approaches
One of the best ways to protect ourselves from privatization is to elect school Board members who understand privatization’s dangers and who will support us.
The same is true for state legislators.
Using our power – bargaining approaches
Depending on your state’s bargaining laws, it may be possible to negotiate prohibitions against contracting out, or protections for employees if jobs are contracted out.
It’s a lot easier to bargain good contract language before there’s a privatization threat.
Using our power – legislative/regulatory approaches
WA and IL have laws requiring privateers to provide comparable benefits - these have been very effective
Some states give unions the right to bid on contracts
Some other state and municipal approaches: Prohibit corporate criminals from contracting Require substantial savings Require thorough and accurate cost comparisons Require specific conditions, such as an economic impact
analysis Living wage requirements
Organize!
Water Privatization protest, Cochabamba, Bolivia
Madison, WI, 2-15-11
Presented by