Fighting-back and speaking-out earns OGS member Privatization Buster Award

By DEBORAH A. MILES
PEF’s 2006 Privatization Buster Award goes to a member who has made it his mission to reduce the number of outside contractors working at the state Office of General Services (OGS), and who has been courageous in speaking out, not only at the labor-management table, but also to the press.

Greg McBride, a junior superintendent of construction at OGS and PEF Division 179 assistant council leader, was presented the award at the PEF Convention.

“What tipped the scale in his favor was the courage it took to publicly discuss the privatization problems at OGS,” said Mary Lou Vasilev, chair of the Privatization Award Committee.

“He has been a long-time fighter against privatization. He really stepped- up to the plate to go on record in an interview with the Albany Times Union,” Vasilev said.

The story ran in August 2005 and quoted McBride on how OGS was contracting out state work, such as construction inspection projects to private consultants.

“I made a conscious effort to address the OGS privatization problem,” McBride said. “The fight has been going on for several years, and my agency has really been targeted. Contract employees were doing the same work, using our equipment, and earning two to three times more money.”

McBride said there was no retribution from the agency for his speaking to the press. He did, however, receive one call from someone at the state Ethics Commission who wanted to put him on speakerphone with his supervisor. McBride responded by saying PEF’s legal department would answer all their questions, and he hasn’t heard from them again.

McBride said he was “very excited” about winning the award.

“Being an activist can be a thankless job, but PEF has been very diligent in recognizing those who work hard in their labor activism. I was very pleased to be selected, because my agency, along with several others, was really being targeted for privatization. This is an honor, “ McBride said.