Collier custodians keep jobs... at least for now
By
Tami Osborne, WINK News
Story Created:
Jun 19, 2008 at 8:58 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jun 20, 2008 at 11:39 AM EDT
NORTH NAPLES, Fla. - Teachers get up to show their support for the Collier County custodians.
That support, along with a health care plan presented by the Teamsters this week has saved hundreds of janitors' jobs, at least for now.
The custodians are calling it a step toward a victory that many of them say they need to save their jobs.
The Collier County school board has voted to hold off on making a decision on out-sourcing the district's custodial services to GCA Services, Incorporated until September, so they can take more time to look at the Teamsters' proposal to change healthcare providers,which they say can save the district 12 million dollars over the coming years.
"Our numbers our sound, and the savings is sound," Teamsters Local 79 Chief Negotiator Randy Pines says.
The school board directed staff to look into all other healthcare options, and to use money from the district's strategic reserve to cover the three million dollars in savings they were looking for by out-sourcing in the meantime.
Its a move Superintendent Dennis Thompson says is very dangerous.
"Potentially, what we're doing is setting ourselves up for massive personnel cuts next year," Thompson says.
Still the board doesn't want to rush the decision to out-source.
Janitors like Leo Pozo hope this extra time leads them to decide its not the right choice, and to make the one that will keep a roof over his head.
"We might lose our house if we lose our job," Pozo says.
This decision to hold off on out-sourcing passed in a three to one vote.
Steve Donovan was the board member to vote against it.
Committees will be looking into not only the district's healthcare options, but also the districts financial issues.
Both of those groups have been told to come back with presentations for the board at their July meeting.
Tuesday, Jun 24 at 2:20 PM Kim Eble wrote ...
Someone needs to address the point that these custodians are very inportant to what goes on during the course of the school year. I have been very involved in PTOs and SAC committees in elementary schools and middle schools and there have been many carnivals, dances, "pizza parties", dessert socials, concerts and endless numbers of fund raising events that I could not have done without the school custodian's help. Everyone knows them, They are a part of the "school's family." They care.
Sunday, Jun 22 at 6:47 AM Doug wrote ...
I worked for the Federal government. One of the responsibilites of our office was to determine the coat effectiveness of outsourcing jobs to the private industry. It was found that is was cost effective for the first three years in almost all cases. However after three yesrs the cost savings decresed and the quality decreased and after 5 years it became more costly due to contract modifications, poorer qualtiy resulting in addtional costs and loss of expertise and discontent with other employee
Friday, Jun 20 at 6:23 AM Karin Miletta wrote ...
How about cutting the pay of the school board staff to save money?
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