Workers protest layoff plan
Tampa City Council members let Mayor Iorio know they won't back her privatization plan.
By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published December 21, 2007
TAMPA - After several dozen people marched outside City Hall Thursday to protest Mayor Pam Iorio's proposed layoffs, the City Council slammed her plan to privatize some janitorial and security services and eliminate city jobs.
The council took no action. But they provided a forum for workers to air their concerns.
And they let Iorio know they're not likely to approve contracts for the services with outside companies.
Alonso Ramirez-Velez, a security guard in the city's water department, told the council there are plenty of other ways for the city to save money.
He took off one of his shoes and waved it in the air, saying the city issues him a new $160 pair every year.
"Why don't they just give me an $80 pair of shoes every two years? I don't need a $160 pair of shoes," he said.
The power to hire and fire city employees rests solely with Iorio, according to the City Charter. But contracts need a blessing from the council.
Council member Charlie Miranda suggested reducing the city's payroll through attrition.
"I'm not opposed to change," he said, but there's another way to go about it.
"We have to start at the top and work down," he said. "I'm still willing to take a pay cut."
Council members earn about $40,000 a year.
Iorio in November announced plans to privatize much of the city's security and janitorial services, which could result in the loss of 88 jobs and save the city $1.3-million a year.
That is part of a larger plan that Iorio expects will save the city $3.4-million annually and trim 100 jobs from the payroll.
James Buckner, director of the city's Technology and Innovation Department, headed Iorio's Efficiency and Effectiveness Initiative Task Force. He told the council the plan was meant to prepare the city for expected declines in property tax revenue.
Iorio also wants to sell surplus property online instead of through traditional auctions, and require direct deposit paychecks for city employees.
But several City Council members have expressed concerns that Iorio's privatization strategy will disproportionately affect low-income families. And an analysis of the plan by council member John Dingfelder found that minorities hold nearly 74 percent of the jobs in the areas targeted for layoffs.
Iorio has said the cuts targeted positions not people, and she wants to find ways to save money without hurting services provided to the public.
But nervous city workers and other union members say privatization is unfair.
Before Thursday's council meeting, they marched outside City Hall, waving signs and chanting, "No justice. No peace."
Among those in the crowd was James Tomas, a custodial worker who earns less than $13 an hour.
"We have so many salary heavy managers at the city. Why is it us that has to go?" he said.
Later, workers and their supporters packed the council chambers and made their cases to the board.
Denise Starr, whose husband works as a parking division security guard, asked why Iorio wants to spend millions of dollars on a Riverwalk and new art museum.
"Those are great things for the city," Starr said. "Not at the cost of people losing their livelihood."
George Cooper, a janitorial worker in the Parks and Recreation Department, said he needs his benefits.
"I'm getting up in age," he said. "It's hard to start over when you're 56."
Council member Linda Saul-Sena told the crowd if they're worried about their jobs, they should vote no on the property tax amendment slated to appear on the Jan. 29 ballot.
"Speak to your friends and colleagues about it," she said.
The amendment, among other things, would double the exemption on homes, and reduce revenues for local governments.
Buckner told the council that even if the amendment doesn't pass, layoffs will be necessary. He said it costs $14-million more each year just to maintain existing programs and services.
After the meeting, Dingfelder said he considered asking the council to vote on a resolution stating its opposition to privatizing janitorial and security services. But he opted not to.
"The message was loud and clear enough," he said.
Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or 813 226-3401.