Assembly Committee Hears WEAC Testimony Against Subcontracting Bill

Three Rivers United Educators member Kathy Myers and WEAC Negotiations Specialist Greg Spring testified before the Assembly's Committee on Labor Wednesday (August 31, 2005) against a bill that would erode unionized employees' bargaining rights.

Assembly Bill 268 would make subcontracting a non-mandatory subject of bargaining. It would allow employers - without negotiating with the union - to subcontract bargaining unit work to private companies that say they can do the job cheaper.

"That Assembly Bill 268 is just another attempt to cripple public sector unions is obvious," Spring testified. "What good is negotiating a contract if all of the jobs covered by that agreement can be subcontracted?"

Spring said the bill was predicated on two misconceptions: collective bargaining is inefficient, and subcontracting with private companies is always beneficial. "Through collective bargaining, union workers have gained decent wages and benefits that translate into strong communities," he said.

"Driven by their desire for profits, the subcontractors cut costs by cutting corners. They hire inexperienced workers at low wages – workers over whom the local governments have no control because, after all, these workers are no longer their employees."

Myers, a school bus driver in the Montello School District, said AB 268 could jeopardize the safety of children if it became law. "I am affected by the stories of school bus accidents that could have been prevented with better training," she testified. "I believe school districts provide much better ongoing training than do [private] bus companies."

Myers said the subject of subcontracting bus services came up during negotiations for her local's 2004-06 contract, which was ratified August 29. "Had the contracting of services, regarding both the decision and impact on the employees, not been a mandatory subject of bargaining, the Montello schools would have likely moved forward with it.

"What would happen if a low-bid, private company came in and took away our jobs? Would the schoolchildren be better off? Would the community be better off? I don't believe so," she said.

Posted September 2, 2005