AMITY >> The Daniel Boone Federation of Support Staff, Local 4954 of the American Federation of Teachers will hold a rally and news conference Monday to show their opposition to school district plans to outsource 35 custodial, grounds and maintenance jobs.
The rally will be held at 6:15 p.m. at the Boone Administration Building at 2144 Weavertown Road.
“Our message to the board is simple: Do your homework,” said Local 4954 President Frank Abbattiscianni.
The Daniel Boone Area School Board is considering contracting GCA Services Group for maintenance work.
“GCA Services Group has a less-than-stellar record of providing the kind of high-quality services that students and taxpayers are used to and deserve,” Abbattiscianni said.
The union claims that GCA has a history of offering workers low wages, inferior and expensive health care and minimal benefits, which results in high turnover that exposes students to a less-qualified, transient workforce, according to a press release the union issued Friday afternoon. In addition, GCA’s proposal contains cost escalators that could significantly impact any project cost savings, the union claims.
“The 35 men and women who maintain our schools are by and large local residents who live in and pay taxes to the school district,” Abbattiscianni said. “Many of us graduated from Daniel Boone schools, as did our children. Handing control over our schools, playing fields and district facilities to low-wage, transient workers puts our students and our investment in safe, healthy and inviting schools at risk.”
Last year, the district outsourced the jobs of 30 “lunch ladies,” but existing employees were offered higher salaries and benefits to remain on the job this year.
GCA, owned by Goldman Sachs, offered existing workers wage cuts between 15 and 25 percent as well as reduced benefits, according to the union.
“Daniel Boone’s School Board is winning the race to the bottom when it comes to selling out its lowest-paid workers,” Abbattiscianni said.