Friday, Nov. 17, 2006 | Council president and council members: I urge caution in the privatization of city jobs because this city is not Wal-Mart. The city’s goal is to serve the public not to return a profit to shareholders.
Wal-Mart cuts costs by providing substandard health care benefits, making sure associates turn over before they even become eligible for health care benefits and offering a substandard retirement benefits package.
It is well-known private corporations underbid on Requests for Proposals and then jack up the price after they have secured the contract. Otherwise, they cut corners to meet their profit goals. They make campaign contributions to those they think can ensure the award of a contract and they do all they can to make bids by other vendors when the contract comes up for renewal almost impossible.
I supported the “Living Wage Ordinance” and to have the mayor, who has no economic training and a staff with little economic expertise pursue a political dogma to satisfy his many parasitic corporate donors while destroying any morale rank-and-file city workers still have left is depressing.