Are you a Tennessee resident? Sign the petition to protest outsourcing state jobs!
Last month (August 2015), Governor Haslam issued a "Request for Information," seeking input from companies to which the state could outsource jobs in order to "create ... reduced operating costs".
This plan threatens thousands of jobs across the entire state of Tennessee. Experience at UT Knoxville has shown that outsourcing increases costs and decreases quality, to the extent that over the past few years we have gone through the process of "in-sourcing" our custodial services.
The only way outsourcing saves money is if the contractor cuts jobs, cuts hours, cuts wages, and cuts benefits -- after all, they have to make a profit!
The RFI included the following language:
Scope: The State's scope of FMO [Facilities Management Outsourcing] is currently defined to include, but is not limited to the following:
The locations included in the RFI are:
Note: Inconsistent capitalization from original. Emphasis mine. Text in [square brackets] added by me for clarification.
If you are in the state of Tennessee and would like to oppose this plan, please sign the petition at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tennessee-is-not-for-sale .
This plan threatens thousands of jobs across the entire state of Tennessee. Experience at UT Knoxville has shown that outsourcing increases costs and decreases quality, to the extent that over the past few years we have gone through the process of "in-sourcing" our custodial services.
The only way outsourcing saves money is if the contractor cuts jobs, cuts hours, cuts wages, and cuts benefits -- after all, they have to make a profit!
The RFI included the following language:
Scope: The State's scope of FMO [Facilities Management Outsourcing] is currently defined to include, but is not limited to the following:
- Call Center/Customer Service Center
- Building operations, including, but not limited to,
- Management Services
- Security
- Cleaning
- Repair/Maintenance
- Administrative
- Roads/Grounds
- Utilities Services
- Management Services
- Preventative maintenance
- Subcontractor management for services not self-performed
- Facilities related purchasing
- Safety and Emergency preparedness and disaster recovery plans/support
- Energy Management/Utilities Analysis
- Financial and Accounting related to building operations
- Accounts payable and integration with the State's ERP system (PeopleSoft v8.9 or higher)
- Cost Management and Budgeting (operating and capital)
- Comprehensive Financial Reporting
- Comprehensive Operational Reporting
- Accounts payable and integration with the State's ERP system (PeopleSoft v8.9 or higher)
- Potential Future Components may include
- Move management
- Project management
- Pre-planning
- Occupancy planning (e.g., strategy, space planning, etc.)
- Shipping and Receiving/Dock Management
- Food service operations
- Administrative Site Services (such as Conference Room Schedule and Set Up)
- Special Events Set Up and Coordination
- Master Planning
- Facility Assessment
- Move management
The locations included in the RFI are:
- Office space
- Higher education: classrooms, administrative space, dormitories, etc.
- Hospitals
- Prisons
- Parks and recreational: hospitality centers, hotels, campground facilities, etc.
- Military [National Guard Armories]
- etc.
Note: Inconsistent capitalization from original. Emphasis mine. Text in [square brackets] added by me for clarification.
If you are in the state of Tennessee and would like to oppose this plan, please sign the petition at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tennessee-is-not-for-sale .