INC NEWS - [owdna] background on the solid waste situation...

[American LAbor]

All,

The abuse of the task system is at the core of this problem.  While it's foundations are rooted in 'rewarding' those who work it for completing their work quickly and efficiently, right now it's not providing the citizens of Durham either.

>From recent accounts it's been learned that over the period of several years Durham's Solid Waste Department has continued to employ this tactic eventhough the task of collections were NOT finished on a regular weekly basis.

This then required that Durham recall the same workers who did not complete the tasks in the first place (but were paid for it) and given overtime to finish the job.  As is also confirmed by the expenses of the department,  they also had to hire additional 'contractors' a significant number of times each month.   This has become a very expensive way to pay for trash collections.

For some,  the perception is that the task system has grown into a 'perk' that some have come to take advantage of.  Thus siphoning off valuable city budget funds.

The simple question remains  "Why continue a system that pays for something we don't get?"

Many of us are now seeing it's impact.  "Action Jackson" just paid the price for trying to do something about it.

Among others,  I also applaud the city Manager Patrick Baker for recognizing this.

A number of people (citizens, city council members and civic leaders) have asked for a more thorough investigation to determine what's best for us as taxpayers and elected officials,  not just for individuals who work in (or contract for) the Solid Waste Department.

Certainly there are many more hazardous and task arduous job descriptions within the city employment that could argue that they are as deserving a 'benefit' as the task system in their departments.

Placing one above another or allowing one department to reap the rewards of a pay system that has gotten out of hand is not good city policy.

This is the time for it to be looked at with the everyone's goals in mind,  not just one.

There are hard working employees all across Durham (Solid Waste included).  Let's make sure that each of them get a compensation package that the citizens can afford which also can recognize the contribution they make, for the work they DO.

mike shiflett

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Schelp 
  To: bwatu at yahoo.com 
  Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 1:18 PM
  Subject: [owdna] background on the solid waste situation...


  With apologies to those of you already on the
  InterNeighborhood Council listserv, here is some more
  background on the solid waste situation (from City
  Manager Patrick Baker)...


  I can confirm that Mr. Jackson voluntarily tendered
  his resignation and I accepted it.  I certainly wish
  him well in all of his future endeavors.

  Since 1999, solid waste collectors have been
  compensated through the task system.  Rather than
  being compensated for hours worked, they are
  compensated for tasks completed.  The task system is
  antithetical to the far more common time clock
  employment system but is a surprisingly typical method
  of compensation for solid waste collection positions. 
  Proponents see it as an incentive plan for arguably
  the least desirable, hardest to fill positions in city
  government.  It also provides these collectors with an
  opportunity (through a shorter work day) to supplement
  their income through secondary employment which many
  do.  Despite the nature of the work, residential roll
  out solid waste collection is by far the highest rated
  service (in terms of customer satisfaction) provided
  by the City.

  The most obvious criticism of the task system is also
  the least compelling:  they get paid for 40 hours of
  work but only work 33 (or so) hours.  (Only a
  government official could see the wisdom in such a
  scheme.)  The basic flaw in that argument is that
  since 1999, they have not been compensated for the
  hours they work; they have been compensated for the
  tasks they complete.  How long they work is not
  primarily relevant in the task system as the number of
  tasks completed is not primarily relevant in the time
  clock system.  

  It has taken me a year to come to terms with the
  benefits of the task system for solid waste collector
  positions.  My problem with our task system as it
  presently exists  is that it is heavily supplemented
  by expensive temporary laborers.  I would like to
  significantly reduce if not eliminate our dependence
  on temporary labor but that means filling current
  vacancies and possibly over hiring to insure that we
  have the in house staff available to complete our
  routes (tasks) by the end of each day.  The routes
  should also be periodically analyzed to insure that
  the value we place on their completion is appropriate.


  Through a combination of vacancies, light duty medical
  restrictions,  and sick leave absences, we were
  woefully unprepared to complete the routes Thursday
  and Friday without the assistance of supplemental
  labor.  The citizen anger was predictable and frankly
  quite understandable.  As the City Manager although I 
  take full responsibility for the actions and decisions
  of all of my directors, I found that nearly 10K missed
  pickups last week to be completely unacceptable.  In
  the absence of a hurricane or an ice storm, we have
  never  to my knowledge had the number of delayed
  pickups as we did last week and early this week. 
  Accordingly, last Friday evening, I directed the
  return of the supplemental labor this week to allow us
  to get caught up from last week.  By noon yesterday,
  we were caught up and everything is back to normal for
  the remainder of the week.  

  Through an expedited hiring process, we will fill all
  of our current vacancies by next Monday.  We are also
  exploring the creation of a supplemental pool of
  floating city employees that will fill in as needed in
  various solid waste divisions. This will wean us off
  of the more expensive temporary labor services without
  any breaks in service to the citizens.  The savings
  would most likely remain in the solid waste department
  to be used to fill other needs and will be much
  appreciated by the employees. 

  Stay tuned,

  Patrick



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