AFSCME: People of Detroit, School Employees Betrayed by Bobb!

DETROIT, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Albert Garrett, President of Michigan Council 25 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement:

"Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb has entered into an agreement with Sodexo to privatize the jobs of Detroit Public Schools custodians," stated Garrett.  "This arrangement offers the workers nothing for their dedication and loyalty except a chance to be interviewed by Sodexo - not even a commitment to let them keep their jobs!

"The citizens and taxpayers of Detroit, as well as these hard-working employees of DPS have been betrayed by Robert Bobb," continued Garrett.  "The history of privatization efforts shows that it is impossible to contract for the full level of services which are essential to our schools and to which our children are accustomed.  The result will be either a dramatic reduction in services, a series of escalating cost overruns, or both.

"The employees of Detroit Public Schools gave up literally tens of millions of dollars in concessions during the last round of negotiations," added Garrett.  "These are the thanks they receive for their heroic and selfless efforts to help save our school system.  Robert Bobb is discarding these working families without a second thought.

"AFSCME will be meeting with these workers on Saturday, to determine our course of action in response to this betrayal," concluded Garrett.

Albert Garrett is also Michigan Vice President for AFSCME International.  Michigan AFSCME Council 25 represents more than 90,000 public workers across Michigan.  AFSCME International represents 1.6 million public workers nationwide.  News releases issued by Michigan AFSCME Council 25 are available at http://laborweb.afscme.org/sites/MI_C_25.

SOURCE Michigan AFSCME Council 25, AFL-CIO

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