PHOTOS: Union Members, Parents Protest Plan To Privatize Custodial Services

One after another, about a half dozen parents and members of the custodial union spoke up against a plan to in Portsmouth schools at Tuesday's School Committee meeting. 

"At 18, I started working at Electric Boat. They privatize their custodians," said David Rodrigues of Portsmouth, an employee of Middletown schools. "With an outside company, you're not going to have that loyalty, trust and heart."

"The custodians today are the kindest, most honest employees today in the schools," said Patricia McCarthy of Portsmouth. "The reason this building () doesn't have any graffiti is because Rick and his crew are on top of it immediately.

"I urge you to support the custodians in this town. They deserve better at the hands of the town, its administration and its elected officials."

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 2669, wore green T-shirts and held up protest signs reading "Keep the Custodians" and "Down with Privatization." 

Members of the School Committee did not comment on the plan to privatize. The meeting continued in accordance with the agenda. 

The council later voted against a Request for Proposal to outsource for custodial services, reports Hard Deadlines blogger John McDaid. The vote was 5 to 2 with Jonathan Harris and Cynthia Perrotti in favor.