COM 0526.003 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i RECEIVED C~TA\WPWIN\PRIVATIZ\GYCCPRIV.WPD ~ Coun4y Council ~ " ~ Good Morning. My name is Gary Yoshiyama, Hawaii Division Chief for the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO. Your discussion this morning provides me an opportunity to give you a brief privatization report on the contract review process within the County of Hawaii. We are against privatization of government services. Members of our union aze honest and hard working citizens of our community. They provide needed services within our community. They deserve the rights and benefits provided them by our civil service law. We as community members need the protections provided by civil service law. I am proud to be counted as a representative of public employees. I am confident when you visit them, you will find good hard working public employees, willing and doing a fine job. Can there be improvement -always and everywhere in the public and private sectors. Over the last several months, our union has reviewed hundred of private contracts from every county department. While it is true, as reported early-on in this process, we were objecting to almost all work contracted out to the private sector - this is not the present case. First of all, our initial objections had more to do with lack of information than any other factor. Furthermore, we take our responsibility seriously and preceded cautiously in our review process. Today, we aze objecting to many contracts on the basis that the identified services have been historically and customarily performed by civil service employees. Additionally, as in the beginning of the review process, we continue to object to numerous contracts because we believe the County has failed to comply with the terms of the Court Order and our agreement by failing to provide the Union the factual and legal basis, along with supporting documentation of its determination. We have made numerous requests for infornation. When furnished, we have reviewed it, revisited our position, and in many instances concurred with the contracted out work. Eazly media reports made reference to some Research and Development contracts. We certainly did object as stated eazlier. There was an absence of information, such information as contractor name, contract number, RFP and contract, specific services, preliminary determination, legal and factual basis along with sup orting documentation. There were discussions between our union and the department head. I~you were to check with R&D at this point, you will find that our Union has concurred with most of the R&D contracts. While we have concurred with these and other contracts there aze many more contracts we have responded negatively to due to lack of information. We are waiting for much information to be furnished by the County. We are now reviewing the many construction contracts of Hawaii County. We are moving towazds concumng with some of the contracts at this time, specifically in the design and new construction areas. cor.~.. Dla S2___ 6.03__ >n>. x.. C Off! Rd'. ?blpres~^ ~ ff SED L ie.t Din NOV 4 1997