Oct. 21--The union representing many of the workers who could lose their jobs if the city privatizes its 311 call center released a letter signed by 36 aldermen Wednesday calling on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to drop the plan.
The Tribune reported Wednesday that the mayor has decided not to go forward with seeking a private company to operate the 311 system, which Chicagoans use to call for non-emergency services like tree trimming and graffiti removal.
The letter from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the aldermen says that "privatizing 311 will result in the loss of quality jobs in our communities. This is not only harmful to the affected individuals and their families but sends the wrong message to all those who wonder if our City's leadership truly is committed to creating good family-supporting jobs in our city."
AFSCME represents about 50 of the 73 budgeted workers at the 311 center.
Emanuel's idea to privatize 311 seemed, from the moment he mentioned it during his September budget speech, to be a good candidate to be removed from his final plan. He isn't counting on any savings from the privatization in his 2016 budget, and even if the work was privatized, the savings to the city would only be about $1 million annually, according to the mayor. His main logic behind privatizing the call center was that it would cost too much for the city to make necessary technology upgrades.
But from the start, council members questioned whether it made sense to put control of a service that so many Chicagoans use in the hands of a private company that could employ workers unfamiliar with the city.
By backing down, Emanuel can make the case he listened to aldermen's concerns in crafting his final budget, as he has by compromising on small parts of his spending package in past years.
jebyrne@tribpub.com
