Coalition of Detroit Public Schools Unions: 'What are you hiding, Mr. Bobb?'

DETROIT, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition of Detroit Public Schools Unions held a news conference on Monday, February 7, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.  The Coalition issued this statement:

"These proposals by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 345; the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), Local 324; and the Greater Detroit Building Trades Council embody substantial savings to the Detroit Public Schools (DPS).  These proposals were presented across the bargaining table, in good faith, to Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb.  The combined savings represented by these proposals is $92 million over five years.

"Mr. Bobb has announced that he has rejected these proposals and intends to privatize these services, outsourcing to Sodexo and a list of subcontractors.  He claims this will result in savings of $75 million over five years.  He has not released the Sodexo contract, even in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, and has not explained his calculations.  Since he has publicly assured workers that wages and benefits will remain unchanged under the Sodexo contract, where are these putative savings to be found?

"The Coalition unions have placed our cards on the table, face up, offering absolute transparency.  Mr. Bobb has hidden his cards in his sleeve, offering no transparency whatsoever.  Mr. Bobb, you are playing games with taxpayer dollars.  The people have a right to know the facts.  Why are you rejecting the union proposals and giving up additional savings of  $17 million or nearly 23 percent?  What are you hiding, Mr. Bobb?"

Union spokespersons were present and available, in addition to University of Michigan Economist Roland Zullo and Detroit Board of Education President Anthony Adams.  

The Coalition of Detroit Public Schools Unions includes: Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees (AFT Local 4168); AFSCME Council 25, Local 345; Detroit Federation of Para-Professionals (AFT Local 2350); Detroit Federation of Teachers (AFT Local 231); Greater Detroit Building Trades Council; Radio and Television Broadcast Engineers, Local 58; International Union of Operating Engineers; Organization of School Administrators and Supervisors (AFSA Local 28).

SOURCE The Coalition of Detroit Public Schools Unions