Unions Speak Out Against School District Cuts
DETROIT (WWJ) A group of custodial workers with the Detroit Public Schools is taking issue with proposed district cuts. Over 500 custodians are being told to re-apply for their jobs, since the district's financial manager made moves to privatize custodial services.
At a news conference Monday, a coalition of unions asked DPS Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb to explain why he believes saving that $75 million by outsourcing maintenance is more appealing than union proposal that they say would save $92 million.
"The five blind boys of Alabama can see through this nonsense here. We have our people, as I speak, down to the Welcome Center, re-applying for their jobs," said Keith January, head of AFSCME local 345.
"Public Act 112 allows school districts to outsource without even negotiating with the unions. This is another problem that we have with that type of language and that type of law. They also had laws, at one time, where black people couldn't go to the same bathroom as white people. That wasn't a good law either," said January said.
In a press release sent to WWJ, Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb states: "The bottom line is saving the maximum amount from these non-core functions, savings that can be redirected to the classroom and to reduce Detroit Public Schools' deficit," said Bobb. "If there were a valid proposal from the unions or anyone else that would have saved more, we would have taken it. The fact is that combined union proposals would have saved the district only $16.6 million."
The chart shows the calculations used to determine a five year savings of $72.1 million, onetime savings and annual rental income totaling $3.6 million, resulting in a total five year savings and income of $75.7 million.
Following Monday's news conference, the unions took their message directly to a local TV station and Detroit newspapers, which did not send a reporter to the event.
