Union Workers March for Public Services

PHOENIX - Hundreds of City of Phoenix employees took to the streets of downtown Phoenix Wednesday to protest the possibility of getting replaced by cheaper contract workers.

The 2,000 workers who keep the city streets and parks clean make $35,000 to 42,000 a year. They worry they're a tempting target for the next round of budget cuts -- afraid the city will lay them off and hire private contractors to do the job for less.

Some 300 members of the Laborers International Union took to the streets of downtown Phoenix Wednesday morning.

"They want to do deeper cuts. Right now we provide high level of customer service, our employees are fingerprinted and background checked, and as a prime example you can see our parks and streets we drive on a daily basis," says Abraham Chaparro, union worker.

City manager David Cavazos said the city is looking at options. "There are opportunities for rightsizing the organization. we can do insourcing, outsourcing…. we have not made any final decisions on what jobs need to be contracted out but that is something we have to look at."

A task force is kicking around ideas for outsourcing landscaping, parking meter maintenance, and traffic light management jobs.

A subcommittee held a public forum, and workers were able to voice their options. There won't be a final decision until the fall.