Florida – Members Pull Together to Tackle Privatization

Sec.-Treas. Lee Saunders with Janice Coakley, president of Local 3293 (North Miami Beach). (Photo by Gaston De Cardenas)

AFSCME activists met in Miami this spring to share the knowledge they’ve gained fighting privatization.

Council 79 members, including Pres. Jeanette Wynn and members from 24 locals, participated in the Push Back Summit to Save South Florida. The event launched a joint effort by AFSCME and Council 79 to increase membership in South Florida and protect public services.

Outsourcing, in which private companies get paid tax dollars to provide services, is a grave threat to Florida. AFSCME Sec.-Treas. Lee Saunders briefed the activists on similar battles across the country.

“Corporate-backed, corporate-hacked politicians like Rick Scott are going to take the microphone and say that privatization will save us money,” Saunders said. “That’s a lie, plain and simple.”

Participants left with kits that included a list of warning signs that public officials are considering privatization; sample leaflets for the community; tough questions to ask city councils about privatization; sample contract language and other tools for pushing back. Sixty participants committed to march on April 28 with Local 199 to call attention to the dangers of privatization.