Privately Contracted Workers Could Place Osceola Students at Risk

Union Employees Warn School Board Against Jeopardizing Safety

ORLANDO, Fla., May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At tonight's Osceola County, Florida, School Board meeting, school employees warned of possible risks to children in Osceola public schools if the District goes forward with its plan to contract out school bus driving, cafeteria work, custodial services, and building repairs to an outside, for-profit company. Workers said that research on privatization shows that using contractor employees poses risks including: potential hiring of employees with criminal records; inadequate worker training and staffing; and loss of school control over important services.

"We shouldn't gamble quality schools and our children's safety for unreliable, short-term savings," said Mike Stapleton, President of Teamsters Local 385, which represents Osceola County's non-teaching school staff. "Contracting means that we won't know who's in our schools with our children. It means replacing known and trusted school staff with strangers. We believe parents should know the risks before the district makes this move."

Stapleton urged the district to commission a study of contracting out before proceeding with any privatization plans. He added that research reveals the risks of contracting out school services to districts and students, including contractors not performing criminal background checks.

Problems with the quality and reliability of school services also emerge from individual contractors' track records, Stapleton said, noting that contractors often pay lower salaries, offer fewer benefits, and fail to train employees properly. "We are asking the district not to rush into a change that could endanger our children," Stapleton said.

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Source: Teamsters Local 385, Orlando, FL

CONTACT: Roger Allain of Teamsters Local 385, Orlando, FL,
+1-407-947-3846

2008-05-20 18:04:23 0367157 PRNEWSWIRE