Contracting Out Chews Away at Public Sector Job Security
 *Original art by AFSCME 37 NYC anti-contracting out campaign. Edited for Contra Costa County Local 21 Contra Costa County is engaging outside contractors at rates never previously seen.In FY 2017-18 alone, the County spent more than $200 Million on outside contracting. Some of that contracting is needed and appropriate, such as when the County lacks expertise in a given area or when there is an urgent need for limited duration work the County can’t perform with in-house staff. However, some of the contracting is improper, and it seriously jeopardizes the careers of Local 21 members and all County employees. This County is overrun with all sorts of questionable contracting practices, including by ex-employees who draw pension benefits from CCCERA while also receiving paychecks as newly employed contractors for the County. This is a sly way for the ex-employee to double-dip—affectedly benefitting from a pension other employees fund while no longer paying into that pension due to their contract worker status-- and an easy excuse for the County to avoid hiring permanent staff. But the County’s failure to maintain a pipeline of skilled, experienced in-house workers undermines all County permanent employees and puts future services at risk. As Local 21 positions disappear to ex-employee contractors, so do our promotional opportunities. And what happens when the County becomes totally reliant on a contractor who decides to retire? The County is then forced to start from scratch, which is far more costly than properly training staff for succession to more complex roles. Whether ex-employees or larger contracts, Local 21 will continue to pressure Contra Costa County to prioritize permanent staffing. If it becomes more convenient or expedient for the County to contract out as opposed to putting itself in a better position to hire and retain permanent staff, it undermines our bargaining power and leverage for better wages and benefits. In the long run, it’s more cost-effective to hire, train, and maintain permanent staff than it is to fall back on outside contracting. Permanent staffing equates to better continuity of service and more accountability for the communities we serve. As professional public servants, we should demand no less.
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