Hate to say "I told you so"

The outsourcing of custodial staff is no surprise. It has been in the cards for a long time. I myself have been writing about it since August of 2007.

The outpouring of emotions comes from a sense of loss for our long held community spirit. The idea you could work for a business over tens years and then one day be compelled to take a nearly 50% pay cut and lose all benefits just seems wrong. It goes against the basic “cracker” creed; work hard and you will be rewarded.

FYI - GCA Services janitors typically earn $5.30 an hour with no benefits. Most janitors are employed part-time and weekly pay averages about $106. GCA Services Group was founded in 2003 by investors and private equity firms. Their rapid rise to the top is do in part to buying up independent cleaning businesses. Today, five years later, their revenues exceed $450 million dollars.

I feel compelled to make a few comments regarding this decision.

#1 – For all the union bashers…careful what you wish for.

Many GCA Services employees belong to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – the Nation’s largest labor union with membership of about 1.8 million nationwide.

SEIU is involved in labor disputes with GCA Services in several States, including a highly publicized campaign in Houston, TX.

GCA employees have been on strike in many States over the past year

SEIU is actively campaigning in all right to work States, including Florida.

As always, documentation available at http://www.bytemeworld.com/schoolboard.htm

#2 – In defense of the Custodial Staff

Many of the individuals affected have been a familiar face to teachers and parents. In fact, they often are the ONLY familiar face. Many of the long term residents have seen the teachers and staff come and go in record numbers, but the janitor was always there – year after year…many for 10-20 years.

I actually attended one of the candlelight vigils. When one of the speakers went to address the crowd, they began with – I don’t speak Spanish…the resounding cry from the custodians, SPEAK ENGLISH, WE UNDERSTAND. Most do speak English, but when facing the loss of their livelihood revert to Spanish. Chances are pretty good new custodians from GCA will not be proficient in English either. I suggest if you have a problem with this please pick up the phone and call Literacy Volunteers of Collier County and volunteer to teach English.

#3 – If Rockford, IL is any indication…media personnel should be saving their money. The rest of you CCPS employees…better get that medical problem taken care of before the new insurance kicks in.

#4 – This really has nothing to do with anything, I just found it interesting…
GCA contract replaces cleaners with robots
Portland, OR-based facility services contractor GCA Services Group™ will integrate robotic scrubbers into maintenance programs, and has signed a national purchasing agreement with Intellibot™ Robotics, LLC.
Intellibot CEO Henry L. Hillman Jr. said autonomous floor scrubbers reduce labor costs by up to 85 percent, since no operator is involved.
http://www.cmmonline.com/article.asp?IndexID=6635765