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Health & Fitness

School custodians will rally to keep quality services and good jobs in Malden!

Malden school custodians will rally to keep quality services in local schools on Monday, May 5 at 5:00 PM at the Malden Center T station (corner of Pleasant and Commercial Streets).  After the rally, many of the custodians and their supporters will attend the Malden School Committee meeting at 6:00 PM across the street in Malden Government Center. 

"I'm really concerned about the Mayor's proposal to "out-source" our jobs to a private contractor," said Paul Cutone, a Senior Custodian at the Salemwood School with 20 years of service to the city. "As a lifelong Malden resident, I care deeply about my community and the services we provide."

Of the 28 school custodians, 57 percent live in Malden and another 29 percent live in contiguous communities.  The custodians have an average of 16 years of service.

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"The loss of these jobs will not only be devastating to all of us and our families, but to the entire community as well," Cutone continued.  "Most of us are homeowners; we spend our money in Malden and pay taxes here.  Outsourcing our jobs will lead to inferior quality of service with doubtful cost savings."

In addition to the community rally, custodians recently sent a letter to many of Mayor Christenson's top political contributors, posing significant questions for him to answer regarding the outsourcing plan.

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The custodian's union, SEIU Local 888, took out a full page ad in the Malden Observer urging residents to raise their concerns about quality of service and losing local jobs with the mayor.

"The savings from outsourcing varies widely and often diminish over time," said Mark DelloRusso, President of Local 888.  "The custodians go above and beyond in their service to the schools, while these private contractors often provide inferior service in their quest to maximize profits.  We are not going to stand by idly and watch good local jobs be destroyed and dedicated staff forced on unemployment." 

For a copy of the letter to the community, the full-page newspaper ad and a fact sheet about the proposed outsourcing, email rwilson<at>seiu888.org. 

SEIU Local 888 unites more than 8,000 public service, higher education and not-for-profit workers in Massachusetts for the good jobs and quality services our communities need.  Learn more at: www.seiu888.org.

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