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Texas State Workers Resume Privatization Fight
In a battle similar to one waged in the mid-1990s, Texas state employees represented by CWA are fighting to save thousands of jobs and protect badly needed human services that are targeted for cuts and privatization under legislation passed earlier this year.
The Texas State Employees Union, CWA Local 6186, rallied and lobbied extensively against the bill, which calls for reorganizing 11 state human services agencies into five departments. Now plans call for TSEU members and retirees to be at every meeting and hearing concerning the changes.
TSEU Vice President Mike Gross said whether it's simply attending to take notes, testifying or rallying, the union will be there. "We're going to find ways to take them on every step of the way," he said. "We refuse to be defeated just because a bill's been passed and the governor's signed it."
About 3,000 TSEU members work in 460 state human services offices throughout Texas, serving as caseworkers for people receiving welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, children's health insurance and programs that provide visiting nurses and nursing home care.
Under the Texas scheme, the administrative functions for the services would be handled by a private call center instead of face-to-face contact. Further, the Texas bill calls for reducing the number of people who qualify for aid. "The people who need assistance the most aren't going to get it," Gross said.
Federal law doesn't allow states to contract out work for food stamps and Medicaid, but the state plans to seek a waiver from the Bush administration, which is likely to comply. The Clinton administration refused to give the state a waiver in its last attempt to privatize services.
Gross said many of the 3,000 CWA members as well as many non-union employees in human services could lose their jobs if the state succeeds with the agencies' consolidation and is granted waivers.
The Texas State Employees Union, CWA Local 6186, rallied and lobbied extensively against the bill, which calls for reorganizing 11 state human services agencies into five departments. Now plans call for TSEU members and retirees to be at every meeting and hearing concerning the changes.
TSEU Vice President Mike Gross said whether it's simply attending to take notes, testifying or rallying, the union will be there. "We're going to find ways to take them on every step of the way," he said. "We refuse to be defeated just because a bill's been passed and the governor's signed it."
About 3,000 TSEU members work in 460 state human services offices throughout Texas, serving as caseworkers for people receiving welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, children's health insurance and programs that provide visiting nurses and nursing home care.
Under the Texas scheme, the administrative functions for the services would be handled by a private call center instead of face-to-face contact. Further, the Texas bill calls for reducing the number of people who qualify for aid. "The people who need assistance the most aren't going to get it," Gross said.
Federal law doesn't allow states to contract out work for food stamps and Medicaid, but the state plans to seek a waiver from the Bush administration, which is likely to comply. The Clinton administration refused to give the state a waiver in its last attempt to privatize services.
Gross said many of the 3,000 CWA members as well as many non-union employees in human services could lose their jobs if the state succeeds with the agencies' consolidation and is granted waivers.