State lawmakers will hear directly from campus employees, students and faculty at University of Tennessee Chattanooga next week as part of a fact-finding trip to learn more about the effects of outsourcing state jobs.
Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris and state Representative John Ray Clemmons, joined by state Representative JoAnn Favors, will hear from the United Campus Workers, the Tennessee State Employees Association, UT Chattanooga College Democrats and Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM).
"During our last fact-finding trip to Knoxville, Rep.
Clemmons and I heard from campus employees who are working hard and doing everything they can to save taxpayers money," Senator Harris said. "It was a good opportunity to get outside the Nashville bubble and hear directly from the workers who will be impacted by the governor's outsourcing plans. I look forward to visiting Chattanooga to learn more from our state employees."
"Governor Haslam's plan to outsource state jobs and services will have a direct impact on families and local economies across our state," Rep. Clemmons said. "Unfortunately, much of this ongoing privatization effort has taken place behind closed doors in Nashville. By traveling across the state into the affected communities and bringing interested stakeholders to the table, Sen. Harris and I are trying to add some much-needed transparency to a process where it is otherwise sorely lacking."
Democrats said that Governor Haslam has proposed a massive outsourcing of state government that would lay off state employees in favor of corporate contractors. The plan includes state universities, in addition to state parks, correctional facilities and National Guard armories. Although the governor told local media that he has not yet made a decision, a presentation from the administration to bond agencies in New York cited outsourcing as a cost-saving measure.
The discussion will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the Raccoon Mountain Room at the University Center at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
Students, faculty and campus employees, in addition to media, are encouraged to attend.