Source: Jennifer Learn-Andes, Times-Leader, July 7, 2015
Outsourcing? Privatization? Luzerne County Councilman Jim Bobeck said the concept he’s pushing for is neither of those because he wants to open up some county work to outside bidders while still giving employees who perform that work a shot at submitting their own proposal to keep it. Known as “managed competition,” the technique has been used by some governments across the country as a way to shop around for other prices and options. …. He cited county tax assessment as an example of a service that could benefit from the new concept, saying there have been “issues” regarding the department’s performance….. Bobeck acknowledged some collective bargaining agreements may set limitations or outright prohibit privatization. For example, the contract with prison workers, which runs through 2018, says the county cannot privatize or attempt to privatize the facility during the length of the agreement. However, the county may be free to “try and test” managed competition when agreements expire or if agreements allow, he said. A few contracts leave the door open to privatization but require the county to schedule a meeting for the union and a new outside provider to discuss possibilities about a future relationship between them…..
