Parks closure bill pathway to contracting out, local president testifies

A bill to allow local governments and civic groups to take over maintenance of state parks temporarily closed by budget cuts is a pathway to contracting out jobs.

That's what Statewide Parks Local 1466 President Brian Yearout told the Senate Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee Monday (Feb. 14) on SB 5702.

"We're concerned that it could lead to job loss and loss of infrastructure," he said. "And in the event of a park closure, maintenance of the park is bargaining unit work that we would normally perform.

"It appears that this is an effort to contract out our work."

SB 5702 would also hamstring parks workers ability to present alternatives to contracting out the maintenance work, Yearout said.