Jeffrey Zdinak – 7/25/05

This page was last updated on July 25, 2005.

Privatization a bum deal; Jeffrey Zdinak; Beaver County Times; July 25, 2005.

In summary, this letter is from a self-described “political activist for the SEIU” “high-fiving” the chief union steward for SEIU Local 668.

On a side note, Mr. Zdinak needs some writing lessons.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Kudos, Thomas R. Trkulja, privatization will further weaken Beaver County’s economic situation.

“Be advised, all you merchants here in Beaver County, those who earn a living here spend it here.

“Employees of the privatized jail will not be able to afford the cars, groceries, clothing, housing and many other products and services that the present staff spend their money here in this county.”

[RWC] What an idiotic statement! Will the employees work for free?

“One would have to wonder what life could be like if the present Beaver County administration would put a true effort into economic development, rather than try to privatize the county workers.”

[RWC] What does so-called government directed “economic development” have to do with privatizing County jobs? Regardless of our economic state, shouldn’t government services be delivered in the most cost-effective manner? If the County can do it better, the County should do it. If a private company can do it better, we should contract with a private company.

It should come as no surprise that a union management “true believer” also believes in the communist/socialist concept that government can plan an economy. These folks like to call it “economic development,” however.

“We do have some kind of committee for economic development but, to my understanding, this committee is not a professional economic development company.

“What if rather than spend money on studies to privatize, we spent money to hire a true economic development company?”

[RWC] But only a company completely represented by the SEIU, correct? <g>

“I am one citizen who is tired of hearing parents talk about their children living in other parts of the country and how well they are doing, and then show pictures of their grandchildren with tears in their eyes.

“We need to develop our county so our children can stay here and earn a living here.

“As a political activist for the SEIU, it is clear in my mind the day Theresa Heinz Kerry opened the Ambridge campaign headquarters.

“I was front and center. I remember her condemning outsourcing and privatization of job, and clearly seeing our Democrat Commissioners fervently applauding this statement. What happened?”

[RWC] “What happened?” The county commissioners need to balance a budget show a little fiscal responsibility for once. I don’t know if SEIU management is acquainted with those concepts.

By the way, if you believe Messrs. Zdinak and Trkujla care about privatization, I believe you’re mistaken. I believe these men are concerned only with the fact that there’s no guarantee the SEIU will represent workers for the company that ends up running the jail. They figure there will be no union or another union will organize the workers. If there were a guaranteed SEIU presence, I believe you wouldn’t see these letters about “privatization.”