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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0526.003 1996-1998 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 L ~ Our Union will continue to object to those privatized services which has been customaril and historically performed by civil service employee~n the absence of a legislative exemption In the contract review process we have met, discussed, and made recommendations. Some of our recommendations generally stated include: Conversion of some contracted jobs to civil service. In some instances, we have requested the County to consider establishment of positions to perform the services rather than contract it out. We have suggested the County work with the State in some cases, ie shaze responsibilities, discuss consolidation, and contract with the State in others. We have asked the County to consider forming partnerships with the private sector in the delivery of some services. We have suggested a review of and recommended in some cases reorganization, and in somecases consolidation of "duplicated services". We have questioned the seemingly high cost of some contracted work. Our statements on specific contracts is documented in the numerous letters exchanged between County departments and our Union. In short, we have discussed and support the need for efficiency in government. We believe in a lot of cases, the County need not look to the private sector. In many cases, yes, the private sector and our brothers and sisters in private sector unions should do the job. However the answer is not always to look outside. Tapping the resources from within -that's where you'll get the job you want done. Our philosophy in the process is to support the need for efficiency in govemment, insure our civil service statute is enforced, and work with the County. Before you decide to do any more contracting out; before you decide to seek modification of our civil service law, we seek your assistance in making the review process work. We ask your support in reviewing county operations. We ask that you meet with your most valueable resource - the people we refer to as public employees.