RSS Feed |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Want Consultants Out
'Don't Need Layoffs' Union leaders agree that the HA's budget crisis is real and have pledged to work with the agency to lobby for more funding, but some believe that layoffs could be avoided by cutting consultants and private contractors who work at the HA. "They can deal with the issue without the layoffs," said DC 37's Local 375 Civil Service Technical Guild President Claude Fort, who has 18 members on the chopping block. "By looking at consultants or at least modifying the contracts, they can eliminate some of the services and give them to our members who can do them more cheaply."
HA officials have said the layoffs, and an overall elimination of 427 positions, are necessary to help close a $195.3-million budget gap in 2008. The staff cuts will save $30.3 million per year. 42 At '371' Face Ax Local 371 could lose 42 members, mostly Assistant and Associate Community Coordinators, who work in the community centers located inside the housing developments and provide social services to residents, including children and the elderly. The HA is consolidating 19 of the centers that officials say are "under-utilized." "We were stunned at the high number of workers in our titles that were slated for layoffs, because of the critical services they provide," said Local 371 President Charles Ensley. "We believe the Housing Authority does have a financial crisis. We also believe that if we work with them, we might be able to mitigate that crisis through political lobbying." The Feb. 29 layoff announcement started the 45-day clock during which union officials will negotiate with HA officials over the lists, checking seniority rankings and provisional status, among other issues. Local 1407 President Maf Misbah Uddin, who has 14 members at risk, noted the HA was using an outside firm to perform a financial audit, a task within the job description of city Accountants, eight of whom are slated to go. "My issue is that they are looking to save $30 million," he said, "and they are using the HA budget and money for outsourcing for some other jobs. That is where they should look first." Will Reduce Pensions A few of the 14 Local 1407 members have 18 or 19 years of service. A layoff now, Mr. Uddin noted, would take a big bite out of their pensions. If they retired with 20 years of service, they would be paid 40 percent of their average salary. At 19 years, they would only receive 32 percent. Mr. Uddin, who is also DC 37's treasurer, is hoping that the city at least agrees to take seniority into account if it must enforce the layoffs, even though all 14 members are provisional and do not have the same protections as civil servants. HA officials did adjust their list in 2003 to reflect seniority among provisionals, and no one with more than eight years of service was laid off. The layoffs were part of a downsizing of 500 positions announced last year by the HA. The agency eliminated 73 management positions last October. It has not ruled out further cuts, although agency and union officials have said that they hope a change in administration in Washington could bring increased funding. The HA has had a shortfall of $611 million in Federal funding since 2001, receiving 83 cents for every dollar it needs to keep developments functioning at the current level. Since 2003, the agency has decreased spending by $527 million and reduced headcount by 2,000. Members of Locals 768, 957 and 154 are also at risk. Two members of Local 983, one member of Teamsters Local 237, seven from the Organization of Staff Analysts and 59 Painters from Local 1969 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades are also on the list. |
for larger version       |
||||||
)
)