Local union representatives say they will work to defeat Menlo Park City Council members who support privatizing city services if they seek re-election this November — a reaction to the council’s decision last week to seek competitive bids to take over the city’s child care services.
“On no condition will we support the privatization of city services,” said Sascha Eisner, a worksite organizer for the Service Employees International Union Local 715. “If there are current council members running for re-election who support privatization, we will oppose them. Things will only get hotter leading up to November.”
The seats for Mayor Nicholas Jellins and council members Lee Duboc and Mickie Winkler will be open in the November 7 election. They’ve so far been silent, at least in public, about whether they will run for re-election.
Mayor Jellins, Ms. Winkler, Ms. Duboc and Councilman Andy Cohen at the April 19 council meeting supported soliciting bids from private and nonprofit companies to operate the city’s preschool and school-age child care programs. Privatizing the programs would save the city $444,000 a year, according to city staff’s projections.
Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc have been the strongest advocates of privatizing the city’s child care services, repeatedly stating that it isn’t fair for Menlo Park residents to support highly subsidized programs that serve a combined 187 students.
Mayor Jellins often votes with Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc on major issues — including the recent privatization of the city’s aquatics center — but he is yet to take a firm stance on privatizing child care.
Union representatives say a private company would be likely to lower wages and benefits for the 20 employees who provide child care services for the city.
The union launched an aggressive campaign in the days leading up to the council’s decision to solicit bids to run the child care programs, sending automated phone messages and fliers to Menlo Park residents urging them to contact council members and voice opposition to privatizing city services.
At the council’s April 19 meeting, Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc said they received phone calls for, but not against, privatizing child care.
“We’re not too happy with [Ms.] Winkler and [Ms.] Duboc,” said Keith McLeod, a city employee and SEIU representative.
Mr. McLeod said he supported Ms. Winkler, Ms. Duboc and Mr. Jellins on behalf of the union leading up to the 2002 election, but would not support Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc if they sought re-election.
Mr. Eisner said SEIU Local 715 endorsed all of the current council members except for Mr. Cohen.
In August, SEIU officials are scheduled to begin contract negotiations with the city regarding employee benefits.
