Chichester SD workers battling outsourcing attempts
Members of AFSCME Local 2196 are standing united against the Chichester School Board’s attempts to outsource up to 60 jobs in the district’s Maintenance Department.
Members of AFSCME Local 2196 show their solidarity at a recent Chichester School Board meeting.
Workers from all departments packed the June 11 school board meeting where a Request-For-Proposal (RFP) to outsource the maintenance jobs to a private for-profit company was expected to be voted on. Fortunately, thanks to the workers’ solidarity, there was no vote, but the threat still looms.
“The union means that you have more people fighting for you,” said Helen Malloy, a Van Driver for the district and President of Local 2196.
“Our Maintenance Department is under siege right now, so all of us are coming together to help our fellow members in Maintenance. Four years ago, the board threatened our Transportation Department. It seems like every year that our contract comes up, they threaten one of our lines of work. If we all come together and fight for each other, it’s more powerful.”
Local 2196 President Helen Malloy speaks on behalf of Chichester SD workers at June 20 budget meeting.
Union members continue to attend every school board meeting, including the June 20 budget meeting where board members discussed a $235,000+ superintendent position, which would be in addition to two already-existing assistant superintendent positions. Ultimately, district workers and community members alike questioned the need for this position, and a budget agreement was not reached.
“Outsourcing would hurt the community and the tax base, because if you lay off everybody, they get rehired by an outsourced service that comes in. You’re not going to have your pension, you’re not going to have your salary, you’re going to lose your benefits. You may get some benefits, but they’re going to be horrible. They may give you more money, but you’re losing your benefits and your pension and your vacation time and everything that you have built during your years being here,” Bus Driver and Local 2196 Vice President Roxanne Hoag said.
Local 2196 President Helen Malloy with one of the anti-outsourcing yard signs that you can be seen throughout the community.
The workers have gained strong community support. Local 2196 created yard signs and T-shirts to raise awareness about the outsourcing attempts, and they continue to grow their union power by signing up non-members and getting more current members involved.
Joel Bryant is a custodian for the district and is among the workers whose jobs are threatened by the board’s outsourcing attempts. When asked about the outsourcing efforts, Joel responded, “Well, I think it’s a dumb decision because the company is for profit, and the school district is just owned by the by the public, right? By the taxpayer, right?”
“Without the union, we’d probably be voted out just last week – just right out the door,” Joel said.
Chichester School District has a long union history. District workers went on strike in 2001. This is a local union that’s not afraid to flex its collective muscle, and they are here for the fight against these latest attacks.
“To have a union means working together to make sure we’re a team and coming together to save jobs and fight for one another. Because if we didn’t have a union, we’d be fighting by ourselves and we would lose very quickly,” said Jamie Boughter, an Instructional Assistant and Secretary of Local 2196.
“With the union, we have everybody, and we have the community behind us. We’re not alone.”
