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TMCNet: Union tries to block IT job outsourcing [The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.]

[August 31, 2010]

Union tries to block IT job outsourcing [The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.]

(Charleston Gazette, The (WV) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 31--CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of a state public employees union took legal action in Kanawha Circuit Court on Monday to block the state Office of Technology from bidding out about 600 information technology jobs to the private sector.


The West Virginia Public Workers Union UE Local 170 filed a writ of mandamus, asking the court to block any attempts by the state to seek bids for proposals to outsource the state's information technology operations.

UE 170 spokesman Gordon Simmons said the union went to court Monday, anticipating that the Office of Technology was preparing to publish its request for "expressions of interest" from private-sector companies to take over the IT operations as early as this Friday.

In its complaint to the court, the union contends that the Office of Technology cannot legally bid out its IT operations, since it has failed to comply with requirements set down under the 2005 legislation that created the office.

The union contends that under the law, Chief Technology Officer Kyle Schafer was required to submit a comprehensive four-year plan for state information technology operations to the governor and the legislative Joint Committee on Government and Finance by July 1, 2007.

One of the issues to be addressed in that plan was a discussion of possible public-private partnerships regarding IT.

The court filing notes that the four-year plan has yet to be submitted to the Legislature.

It also contends that the Office of Technology has also failed to provide biannual status reports to the Legislature, as required under the 2005 law.

"We think they're just flying now by the seat of their pants," Simmons said of plans to outsource the IT operations.

"That's fine if you're a private business, but not if you're a government agency that's supposed to be accountable to the taxpayers," he added.

UE 170 has hosted rallies opposing the possible outsourcing of the IT operations, including one last week where participants marched into the Capitol, seeking a face-to-face meeting with Gov. Joe Manchin.

Earlier this month, Schafer told legislators that rumors of outsourcing were premature. He said outsourcing is one of several options being considered to reduce the state's $35 million annual cost to provide IT services to various state agencies.

A subsequent press release stated that the Office of Technology "plans to solicit proposals within the next few weeks" to determine if a third-party provider could provide IT services at a lower cost to the state.

"The purpose of this solicitation is to gain a better understanding of the services that third-party providers may offer," the release noted. "As with any solicitation, the state is under no obligation to accept any proposal." Department of Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley-Brown said she could not comment on the matter Monday.

"We don't comment on any issue in litigation," she said.

Reach Phil Kabler at philk@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.

To see more of The Charleston Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wvgazette.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.

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