CIVIL ENGINEER: Says Public Employees Do a Good Job

New York City

If it wasn't for the union, everything in the city would be contracted out," said New York City Local 375 (Council 37) member Srini Keshava. "AFSCME protects us and safeguards our jobs—and we make sure the jobs are done right. If it wasn't for the union, we'd be suffering."

Keshava is a civil engineer currently overseeing a $32 million water line project. In addition to the 48" water main, the project includes sewer, roads, curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, even traffic signals.

"This is a typical project where there was no 48" water main, so we have to create a whole new trench in some areas." Planned as a 28-month project, it may be finished in 14 months.

Ever heard of a contracted-out job being finished ahead of schedule?

"We couldn't have done it without the cooperation of all the public employees involved," said Keshava. City transportation, environmental, and parks workers, as well as workers from the public utilities—electrical, telephone, and cable TV—all assisted in this project.

Keshava makes no secret of his opposition to privatizing public jobs.

"When they contract out a job," said Keshava, "they typically use more engineers than we would use. Typically these engineeers are paid higher than we are, yet when they come to the job we have to train them and get them up to speed.

"Sometimes yet another consultant will be brought on board and we have to train them as well.

"The city would love to contract out all of us. You can't rely on some bureaucratic, political leadership to keep our jobs. AFSCME has to fight for our jobs. And it does."