Hundreds Tell Metro Council: "No Outsourcing Our Jobs!"

Once again, close to 500 people turned out at a public hearing to say NO to Jesse Register's proposal to outsource custodians and cut bus drivers' pay.  This meeting was held by the Metro Council's education committee thanks to a resolution that the council approved because of the problems at the School Board's public hearing on March 11.

Local 205 President Doug Collier spoke and outlined the proposal that the Union submitted which would make the outsourcing of hundreds of mostly minority, low-paid workers unnecessary.  Rank-and-file union members across all departments had their say as well.  Kay Groves questioned the city's priorities of spending $600 million for a new convention center that only benefits downtown businesspeople while we will not commit to fully-funding our school system.  Gerald Johnson spoke about how privatization was tried before in Metro and was a massive failure that resulted in dirty schools and stolen property by part-time, minimum wage workers who had no stake in our school system.  Teresa West warned of setting a precedent that could encourage MNPS to try privatizing other crucial departments in the future.  James Brown, who worked as an independent contractor before becoming a full-time school employee, reminded people that a contractor has a profit motive while the schools serve the public and that sometimes those two goals are not compatible.

In addition to the dozens of SEIU members who spoke, bus drivers from Steelworkers Local 9426 weighed in, as did Erick Huth, the president of MNEA, local clergy including Rev. Henry Blaze, and even one of the school board members, Karen Johnson.

Johnson's appearance was refreshing as she was the only school board member who attended, even though all members were invited.  Of course, it's not surprising that none of the other Board members were there.  Only hours earlier, their Budget and Finance Committee voted to recommend the proposed budget to the full Board, which will meet today (Tuesday, March 23).  Of those who voted, the Yes votes were David Fox, Steve Glover, Gracie Porter, and Kay Simmons.  Those who voted against Register's plan were Karen Johnson and Mark North.  Again, the full School Board must vote on whether to accept, reject, or modify the proposal and we will update you as soon as we have new information.  In any event, we encourage all SEIU members to contact their Board member and ask them to vote No.

Thanks to the Council's education committee chair, Kristine LaLonde, for holding this public hearing and to council members Jamie Hollin, Eric Crafton, and Michael Craddock, whose resolution at the council made the whole thing happen in the first place.  And thanks to council members who came to the meeting to hear what Nashville's working families had to say.  And of course, thanks to all the folks who came from all over the county to speak out and tell their story.