Published: February 01, 2008 10:30 pm      

Taking aim at issue of subcontracts

CUMBERLAND — When the Western Maryland Central Labor Council hosted a City Council candidates forum Thursday evening, several questions focused on labor, including experience in dealing with collective bargaining and support of a “nonsubcontracting article” in a city’s union contract.

Such an article would prohibit the city from allowing subcontractors to perform work if city employees could do so.

Candidate Jim Combs said he could support such a measure and that the concern always has been that when work is contracted out, it eventually “whittles away an organization” to the point everything is subcontracted.

While not familiar with the ins and outs of the process, David Kauffman said the city has enough work to go around.

“We have so many things crumbling in the city, to take away from the existing work force seems futile,” he said.

That’s a sentiment Albert Keener echoed and said with $63 million worth of repairs necessary to city streets, it probably would behoove the city to purchase its own paving equipment. That would be less expensive, he believes, than contracting out the work.

Mike Records also said he wasn’t familiar enough but that the city first has to determine if it has enough workers for various projects. City employees, he added, should be considered first but the city has to do what’s in its best interest.

“I’m all for keeping work in the city and money should stay here,” Carol Cauley said.

Bernie Lechman said he would support subcontracting work “only when absolutely necessary.”

Councilwoman Mary Beth Pirolozzi and Combs were the only candidates with experience with collective bargaining.

Pirolozzi spent 16 years working with state Sen. John Hafer, who served on the Senate Finance Committee. All legislative collective bargaining issues came before that committee.

Combs has firsthand experience.

“I’ve done collective bargaining, both public and private. I think everyone’s aware of that,” he said.

Jerry Chambers said while he has no direct experience, his great-grandfather John Thomas Chambers was instrumental in bringing the eight-hour day to Western Maryland. His brother has served as president of the local transportation union, giving Chambers an insight into local union issues.

Following the debate, the labor council’s executive board and Committee On Political Education met for about a half hour. Recommendations were brought to the council’s delegates, who voted to support Combs, Brian Grim, Kauffman and Pirolozzi.

Contact Maria Smith at msmith@times-news.com.