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The Convention adopted a strong stand against privatization, opposing "the privatization of public services and facilities," demanding public scrutiny of all privatization efforts and supporting "legislative moratoriums on the contracting-out of any public sector work." The resolution "Stop Privatization" was submitted by Local 893, IUP, the unions statewide public sector local union in Iowa. Appropriately, it was read by Bill Austin, District 11, Resolutions Committee co-convener and a Local 893 member. "While it replaces living wage employment with lower paying jobs with fewer benefits and no union representation, privatization rarely results in significant savings to the taxpayer," the resolution states. "All too frequently, the difference in wages is simply skimmed off the top by the benefactors of political cronyism. Additionally, privatization subjects essential government services to the evil inherent in the profit motive. Privateers forced to choose between quality services or higher profits invariably take the money and run, leaving the public with the worst of all worlds: poorer services with higher costs."
Mark Cleland, Local 791, told delegates that hes "lived this resolution" as a public employee in Ohio. Eric Marcks, Local 893, pointed out that not only does privatization threaten union members with the loss of their jobs, "those we serve will also suffer." Nina Williams, Local 799, an employee of an Ohio school district, said privatization means loss of jobs and loss of quality of working conditions and services to the public. "Thats why we organized into UE, to fight privatization," Williams said. Next: Kingsley: 'The Only Choice is to Build
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