Novato Sanitary District, union clash over jobs

[Omaha Steve]

A reminder I am a certified Waste Water Operator II.

OS


http://www.marinij.com/novato/ci_12125916

Brent Ainsworth
Posted: 04/11/2009 10:15:36 PM PDT

Members of the Teamsters union in Novato are fighting plans for an outside contractor to operate a new high-tech water treatment plant.

The Novato Sanitary District expects to need technical and managerial help to get its $70 million plant on Davidson Street - part of a $90 million systemwide renovation - up and running by the end of the year and finished by summer 2010. How long the district will need the extra help will be a hot topic at a Monday meeting of the district's board of directors.

District Manager Beverly James said the board will consider Monday whether to seek bids from contractors who would be responsible for plant performance. Under the most likely scenario, existing employees would keep their jobs for at least two years, and a contractor would be hired for a term of at least five years.

The 22 union employees, members of Teamsters Local 315, are reluctant to speak publicly for fear of retribution. They have expressed their displeasure at the plan for outsourcing, questioning why the move is necessary when many facets of the renovation are already online and training has gone smoothly.

"They are not happy with it at all," said Dennis Welsh, who worked for the district 23 years before he retired in July 2006. "This was sprung on them in February and they didn't know it was coming."

Board president Mike DiGiorgio said, "They're upset because they're not sure what this means to them, and I don't blame them for that."

The Davidson Street treatment plant just east of downtown Novato and the Ignacio plant have reached the end of their serviceable lives. Most facets of the facilities are 30 to 50 years old. The renovation is not only being done to upgrade technology but to make them as efficient and "green" as possible, officials said.

FULL story at link.

[pleah]

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