Outsourcing transparency, accountability tops on CSEA legislative list Supporting legislation to demand accountability and transparency in outsourcing of public services is high on CSEA’s “to do list” as the state legislative session nears its end. The union is supporting several bills in the legislature, which would ensure taxpayer protection that public dollars are spent wisely on outsourced services or make it easier to do something about it. “It’s a very old line to claim that the private sector can deliver better public services than public workers and lots of evidence that it’s just not true,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “Unfortunately, too often outsourcing is set up in a way that prevents a clear accounting and transparent comparison and that’s a disservice to the taxpayer as well as dedicated public workers.” The legislation (S. 7114 / A. 9638), sponsored by state Sen. John DeFrancisco and Assemblyman Denny Farrell, would allow the state, public authorities, and local governments to cancel contracts if the winning bidder goes more than 10 percent over the final bid while performing the work. There have been numerous instances where contractors have gone more than 100 percent over the original bid. This will give the state and local governments the flexibility to get out of the contract if costs are getting out of control. As an example, a recent audit of a subcontractor’s botched work at the state Department of Taxation and Finance “Unfortunately, too often outsourcing is set up in a way that prevents a clear accounting and transparent comparison and that’s a disservice to the taxpayer as well as dedicated public workers.” showed it had already cost taxpayers more than $6 million in overtime alone to correct mistakes. But the tax department is continuing to use the vendor despite the poor performance. CSEA is also supporting legislation that would require contractors to disclose information about the average wages of their employees to show the public whether they are substandard. Another piece of legislation would require accountability from industrial development agencies, which dole out corporate welfare at taxpayer expense. Register to vote today! Use your voice! Please register to vote — and then make sure you vote! Visit www.elections.ny.gov for information. You can also get a voter registration form at your local post office or download a voter registration form at: www.cseany.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ voteform.pdf. Help CSEA activist, family Long Island Region activist Jennifer Colon and her family need your help after a March 22 fire destroyed her home. While Colon, her husband and daughters escaped safely, the family lost all of their belongings and pet dog and cats in the blaze. Members of the Long Colon Island Developmental Center and Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center Local, where Colon serves as third vice president, and the Long Island Region have been helping the Colon family rebuild their lives, but they need more help. CSEA members are being asked to give help in Colon’s time of need. Colon played a key role in the fight to save Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric Center from closure, working closely with community members, advocacy groups, elected leaders and her co-workers to convince the governor and state legislators to keep the facility open. The state opted to leave Sagamore open, but the fight continues to ensure the facility’s long-term survival. Visit www.gofundme.com/7rhvgk to learn more or help. June 2014 The Work Force 7
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