Toolbox

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is privatization?
    
2. What is contracting out?  
    
3. How does contracting out lead to privatization?
    
4. Who are the opponents in the privatization battle?
    
5. What do public employees have over private companies?
    
6. Can the privatization myth be changed?
    
7. How does privatization in other departments or agencies impact me?
    
8. What is OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11 doing to stop privatization?  
    
9. Who decides what work is privatized? 
    
10. How do I identify privatization threats in my agency?

What is contracting out?  Contracting out is one tool used by public employers to achieve privatization. Contracting out (also called subcontracting or outsourcing), is the use of private companies (both for-profit and not-for-profit) to provide public services. Contracting out diminishes. [ top ]

How does contracting out lead to privatization? Contracting out in state and local governments has increased rapidly over the last several years. The use of private contractors for small pieces of an agency's overall work usually leads to larger amounts of work over time, and fewer and fewer public employees. Complete privatization of a government service or pubic program can result. [ top ]

Who are the opponents in the privatization battle? Public workers have spent the last decade fighting the propaganda campaign of private companies and their political allies who have been greedily transferring enormous sums of public dollars to the private sector for delivery of public services. [ top ]

What do public employees have over private companies? Public Interest. Public employees deliver high quality, efficient and accountable services to the taxpayers who pay them.  [ top ]

Can the privatization myth be changed?  It is up to public workers to counter the privatization propaganda and make sure that taxpayers know the problems associated with contracting out.  The union must hold elected officials, who make decisions to contract out, accountable for their actions and for the consequences to the public of decision-making based on philosophy rather than fact. [ top ]

How does privatization in other departments or agencies impact me?
The contracting out of a job unrelated to yours today (in your agency or another) could stimulate additional contracting out — possibly affecting your job down the road.  [ top ]

What is OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11 doing to stop privatization? 
The Board of OCSEA has been agressively examining contracting out since 1993. OCSEA's efforts have intensified during the last several years to develop a plan for state workers to stop inappropriate contracting out and the loss of efficient, accountable service delivery to the public. The results of this planning effort are now incorporated into the union's overall Strategic Plan. OCSEA uses a variety of tools to stop privatization including (but not limited to):

• Contract Enforcement
• Political Action
• Coalition Building
• Quality Services through Partnership

Who decides what work is privatized?  The decision by an employer to contract out work or services is often driven by politics and is made without consultation with union officials or bargaining unit members.  While many contracts are required by law to be publicly bid and least cost bids awarded, many types of services are not covered by bid requirements, or are specifically exempted from the bidding procedures.  [ top ]

How do I identify privatization threats in my agency? Often, most common way that bargaining unit members can learn of potential contracting out is from coworkers who suspect that private contracts are in the process of being formulated in their workplaces. Because of the widespread—yet hidden nature—of the contracting out process, individual members must act as the "eyes and ears" of the union to gather information and develop battle strategies at the workplaces where subcontracting is occurring. [ top ]