County Kitchen Workers Confront Freeholders on Outsourcing

CREST HAVEN — Forty unionized kitchen workers at Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center can’t dispel rumors that their jobs may be on the line should the county opt to privatize or “outsource” their work.
County Administrator Stephen O’Connor vehemently denied — again — job loss allegations at the May 26 freeholder meeting as he had March 24 when asked by the same Lamar “Woody” Lewis, vice president of Local 3596, AFSCME, assistant director of the nursing home’s kitchen. Those workers also prepare Meals on Wheels dinners for seniors countywide.
Lewis, a number of his co-workers, and Local 3596 President Joe Garifo, all clad in green T-shirts with union logos, told freeholders that a May 13 story in The Press of Atlantic City, which focused on an interview with O’Connor, in which Lewis told O’Connor “you put out there you are thinking of outsourcing” had fueled union members’ concerns.
“I didn’t say outsource the kitchen staff,” O’Connor adding, “It was never our intention. Nothing has changed from our last meeting. We are not looking at outsourcing the staff.”
“It wasn’t a press release,” O’Connor said. “I did not write the article. There was never any discussion about outsourcing at Crest Haven,” he added. O’Connor said he should have contacted the newspaper and asked for a correction, but had not.
“The Board of Freeholders did not authorize that comment. It was not accurate,” said Director Daniel Beyel.
“It’s out there,” said Lewis.
“What’s the point?” asked Beyel.
“Something is going on,” replied Lewis.
Beyel replied that in November, department heads were told in the 2010 budget, to anticipate $3 million to $5 million shortfall, and that any ideas for new revenue would be welcome.
“As of this date no new sources of revenue have been mentioned,” said Beyel.
He added that department supervisors were told to look at all potential cost savings, and “areas to be improved.” He stressed there had been no staff reductions to make up the shortfall.
Beyel said that Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is one of 44 county departments, and freeholders are looking for efficiencies in each department.
As the discussion continued, heated at times, Freeholder Gerald Thornton, who oversees the nursing center, said he “would strongly oppose outsourcing meals on wheels.”
“Every time we went with a private vendor, the quality of food was not there. I received hundreds of complaints about the food,” he said. Some of those complaints were that the food was “sub-standard.”
Thornton also said the county Meals on Wheels program is federally funded with $522,000, thus county taxpayers are not footing the bill.
Lewis then asked each freeholder how he felt about outsourcing Meals on Wheels.
While each hedged, citing ongoing efficiency studies, none seemed in favor of outsourcing:
Ralph Bakley Sr.: “I’m not really in favor of outsourcing anything. We are in a position to cut costs wherever we can without hurting anybody. It is not a win-win to outsource without getting something in return.”
Leonard Desiderio: “I am not for outsourcing, but we are looking at all aspects of government to see if there is money to be saved and do a better job. I am not for privatization.”
Daniel Beyel: “We are looking at economies. Other counties have laid off, the latest was Monmouth. We have to balance out some alternatives. Something is going to have to be adjusted, but not on the backs of the workers. We have to consider any options. Nobody is providing any alternatives.”
Ralph Sheets: “ We have to look at this situation from all angles. Once this (study) is completed, we will do what we must do. It will depend on what the studies show. Currently, everything is on the table to be studied and looked at. It doesn’t mean you are going to change the process, but you look to make it more efficient.”
Gerald Thornton: “You know my position. I haven’t changed my position at all. I don’t see any way of privatizing the Meals on Wheels and keep the quality and meals going at the same level as they are that you (staff) provide now out of that (Crest Haven) facility. I have a lot of grave concerns about this Meals on Wheels.”
“There is no way of knowing the savings until a professional study is done,” said O’Connor.
O’Connor, pressed on a question about his brother working for Aramark, which operates the concession at the county park and serves meals at the county correctional center, replied, “Yes, I have a brother who works for Aramark.”
However, he said, “Aramark isn’t interested in just the Meals on Wheels program, but they are not even interested.”
“Our biggest problem is the rumor mill,” said Garifo. “Every time we squash one, another one takes its place.”
“When you get caught in the rumor mill, and they (rank-and-file members) don’t believe us, I don’t k now where to go from here,” said Garifo.
“You should hear the management rumor mill,” added O’Connor.
“I want to make it clear, the union has not been shut out on anything,” said Garifo. He said he spends a great deal of time conversing with Barbara Bakley-Marino, director of county Human Resources and Training regarding personnel.
Garifo’s union members according him a round of applause as he left the podium.
“All rumors are contagious,” said Bakley. “They grow larger and things are added.”
He urged union members to believe only what will be “written in black and white on your (union) bulletin board. No changes are in store that I can see,” Bakley concluded.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com