Judge nixes CEA request

October 27, 2006

By Michael Rovito

Frontiersman

PALMER - An outsourcing battle between the Mat-Su School District and the union that represents the schools' support staff will not go to arbitration after an Alaska Superior Court judge sided with the district, ruling that the matter is not a contract violation.

The battle began after the school board voted 4-3 in March to outsource custodial services. The Classified Employees' Association, the union representing the workers, claims outsourcing is a violation of its contract with the district.

After the district declined to arbitrate the matter, CEA turned to the Superior Court in hopes that a court injunction would force arbitration.

That effort failed after Judge Beverly Cutler ruled that the union's arguments were

unpersuasive.

CEA president Ron Rucker said Wednesday that the group will appeal the ruling, most likely in the Alaska Supreme Court.

&#8220We still don't believe the financial need to justify this action really exists,” Rucker said.

He added that at least 125 people lost their jobs because of outsourcing.

About 40 of those workers found jobs with NANA, but make far less money with little to no benefits, he said.

District officials contend money saved from outsourced services will benefit students. Over the next three years, the district expects to save $6 million, which district public information officer Traci Crotteau said will go directly into the classrooms.

&#8220We feel that our first responsibility is to our students and their education,” Crotteau said.

Those who lost their jobs because of the change aren't as enthusiastic.

Bob Muncy, who was a building custodian at Wasilla High School before his job was outsourced, went to work for NANA, but quit after a couple months, calling the company &#8220horrible.”

Muncy went from $21 per hour at the district to $14 per hour with NANA, he said, and lost his benefits. He said NANA promised him insurance but never made good on that

promise.

A representative from NANA, who said she does not know Muncy, said benefits exist at the company.

&#8220We do have company benefits, assuming the individual is a full-time employee,” said Penny Cotten, NANA Management Services' director of marketing. She added that benefits usually kick in after 90 days.

More than a loss of wages and benefits, though, what Muncy said he saw in the schools after NANA took over custodial operations, and while he briefly worked for them, was a cleanliness level he called appalling.

Muncy and Rucker said the quality of custodial work in the schools has declined, prompting some staff to complain.

NANA workers do have a different set of priorities than the district employees, but are willing to work with the school district, Crotteau said.

In six months to a year, according to Rucker, the school district can expect to be taken to court again over the outsourcing matter.

In Muncy's opinion, any legal action should be taken against those who decided outsourcing was a good idea.

&#8220If there's going to be any suing going on, the four people who voted for it should be held responsible,” Muncy said. &#8220And (chief school administrator) Bob Doyle.”

Doyle is traveling out of state this week and was unavailable for comment.

Rucker said he was disappointed that, even after about 700 people showed up to a school board meeting to show their opposition to outsourcing, the board still voted in favor of the change.

&#8220They're not employee friendly,” Rucker said. &#8220It's typically a big-business mentality.”

Contact Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@

frontiersman.com.