Contracting Out Recap

September 23, 2012 in General

Updated August 23, 2012

On June 7, 2012 the CSU Chancellor’s Office notified CSUEU that they intended to contract out bargaining unit work at San Diego State University.  Today, we can report that the decision to contract out has been shelved and a new opportunity to cooperate is in sight.

On Monday August 20 and Tuesday August 21, union and management teams met at SDSU to discuss the budget and operations of Facilities Services (Physical Plant).  The campus is grappling with budget cuts, and trying to maintain operations with a shrinking staff.  For some managers, contracting out seems the magic bullet – turn the work over to someone who can pay less and do more.
 
CSUEU knows that the efficiency of the state work force can out-produce the low-wage private work force.  What we need is better direction and more innovation to bring that productivity to a new level.  The Union proposed flexibility in staffing, shifts  and teamwork, and cost savings in supplies and equipment.  We also pushed for more involvement by rank and file employees in getting the job done right the first time.
 
On the final day, management agreed to withdraw their Request for Proposal (RFP) for custodial services and to work in a labor-management team to develop alternatives.  This group is now meeting and will report to the parties in late September.  We intend the final report to go to President Hirshman, as an example of how campus community engagement can address our critical needs.
 
Our thanks to our campus organizers – Julie Hinton Thomas, LaToria Williams, Marian Lim, and Pat Meyer – and V.P. for Organizing Mick Geck, who put together two great pickets against contracting out.  Those events were an important part of our victory and showed the determination of union members to keep their jobs.  We are still asking for signatures on the Petition Against Contracting Out and we plan on presenting the petitions to President Hirshman no later than the September Board of Trustees meeting.

Brian Young
Lead Labor Relations Representative
California State University Employees Union

Updated August 17, 2012:  This is happening right now, right here at SDSU.  Sign the petition against contracting out! Download the flyer to post around campus.