| Just below is an email from DC Jobs for Justice detailing current attempts to privatize the Mental Health Services in the District by the Fenty Administration without public input or comment. Please read and forward to your email contacts, and distribute as far and wide as possible. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Did you know that DC's Mental Health Services are on the fast track to privatization? This month without consulting community members, patients or service providers, Mayor Fenty announced that he will be contracting out DC's mental health services to private businesses. This move, which will affect 300 workers and 4,000 patients, not only wastes tax payers' money but puts our communities at risk. Fenty is cutting back public services across the board and its time to say enough is enough. Join DC Jobs with Justice and the DC Metro AFL-CIO: WHAT: Workers' Rights Board, "Protecting Public Services, Respecting City Workers." Dozens of workers, community members and city administrators who will testify about the Fenty administration's continued attacks on public sector employees. WHEN: Thursday, November 20th. 6:30pm-9:00pm WHERE: Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Room 412 For more information contact rcastel@dclabor.org or 202.974.8281. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What do workers have to say about Fenty? Cherylyn Pipkin, DC CSA clinical social worker and SEIU 1199 member. I'd like to call it Project Trojan Horse. This decision is shortsighted, based on inaccurate data and will have devastating effects for working families in the District. The rampant contracting out of vital government services does not work—it's done at the expense of DC residents, delivers little, usually raises costs, destroys the government infrastructure and at the end the day, it's private companies who benefit. Just look at Montogomery County, North Carolina or Georgia.We know that the city is facing difficult times and needs to save money but a patchwork of private programs cannot replace a safety net that we have created for the members of our community who need services. We can't afford the human cost that will result from privatizing and fragmenting our mental health system. Harold Cox, member of the Washington Teachers' Union, Local 6 After teaching at multiple DC Public Schools for 21 years, staying late after class to work with students, and working with the Councilmember Fenty in his capacity as union rep to address the school's problems, Mr. Cox, was laid off from Coolidge High and given no explanation. Under the No Child Left Behind Act Coolidge was reconstituted and teachers forced to reapply for their positions. "But the hiring process had little to do with guaranteeing teaching standards and everything to do with strong arming teachers to make concessions the unions had fought off for years," explains Cox. "During the interview the principal, who went on national TV and announced that he'd like to fire 50% of his teachers, forced interviewees to sign an agreement which included extending teaching hours to 8:45am-3:30pm. I refused and was sent packing." Since Rhee and Fenty's school takeover hundreds of teachers' aides, school teachers and principals have been scapegoated, demoted and laid off with no due process. "Rhee was brought in to break the union." Ruth Castel-Branco Organizer DC Jobs With Justice 888 16th St, NW suite 520 Washington, DC 20006 (t): 202-974-8281 (f): 202-974-8152 www.dcjwj.org |
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TENAC's web site: http://tenac.org
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TENAC's web site: http://tenac.org
TENAC's Mobalization list archive: http://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/tenac
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