MORE THAN YOU PROBABLY EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DISPUTE BETWEEN LAUSD FSD AND TEAMSTERS LOCAL #572

by smf for 4LAKidsNews

March 7, 2011 - In my role on the Bond Oversight Committee I am very much aware of an ongoing dispute between Teamsters Local #572 and LAUSD. 

To completely oversimplify a complicated matter much of this has to with employing contract professionals (aka contract employees or inaccurately: “consultants”) rather than District employees. Teamsters Local #572 represents certain District employees working in the Facilities Service Division – when outside contractors are used in the same job categories some are non-union because they are owner/management within the contracting firm – or they are members of another Teamsters local.

Obviously and understandably Teamsters local #572  has an interest in making sure that as many jobs as possible go to its members, they have argued that employing their members is more cost effective than hiring contract professionals – I listen to those arguments but I support hiring the right person for a job when that makes sense under the circumstances. I an a self confessed practitioner of  hyperbole and am unconvinced that the evidence presented amounts to “gross mismanagement and waste ” of bond funds.

And we are the Bond Oversight Committee …not the Bond Micromanagement Committee.

It is though this filter I have watched and occasionally engaged in this discussion. On the BOC we have committee members who represent both organized labor and the construction  community; they have weighed in when when they deem necessary.

As this is essentially a collective bargaining issue it needs to be addressed through those channels – the Board of Education negotiates collective bargaining matters through the superintendent and his labor negotiation  team.

However…  recently Local #572  has made an argument that the FSD is short on Inspectors (whom they represent) for a number of projects in the works. And the Division of State Architect - who has ultimate authority over Inspection – has agreed that this problem exists. As Inspection has to do with Safety – both at construction sites and also with the future safety of school buildings and that of students and employees – this is a very real concern – and within the purview of the BOC. 

The Bond Oversight Committee and – I am assured -  the Board of Ed is all over this:  This situation will be corrected as soon as possible …or there will be hell to pay!

However,  if it is determined that the best most effective way to address this shortage is through hiring contract professionals I would have to support that solution. There is a current hiring freeze on at the District applying to these jobs –and also a freeze against hiring contract professionals.

Obviously a thaw needs to happen – and soon!

In the interest of openness and transparency following is a paper trail of communications between Local # and the Board of Education. This document originates within Local #572

Teamsters Local 572 Response to James Sohn January 10, 2011 Letter