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Haslam unveils outsourcing details amid Capitol protests

Protesters unfurl a banner at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, that lists names of people who signed a petition opposing Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to outsource maintenance work at more state buildings, including on college campuses. The demonstrators unfurled banners, chanted and sang in the hallways outside the Senate committee room where the Haslam was administration was scheduled to present its “business justification” for privatization efforts later on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)
Protesters unfurl a banner at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, that lists names of people who signed a petition opposing Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to outsource maintenance work at more state buildings, including on college campuses. The demonstrators unfurled banners, chanted and sang in the hallways outside the Senate committee room where the Haslam was administration was scheduled to present its “business justification” for privatization efforts later on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig) Protesters unfurl a banner at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, that lists names of people who signed a petition opposing Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to outsource maintenance work at more state buildings, including on college campuses. The demonstrators unfurled banners, chanted and sang in the hallways outside the Senate committee room where the Haslam was administration was scheduled to present its “business justification” for privatization efforts later on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Associated Press 1 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration is unveiling his “business justification” for his proposal to outsource building maintenance at state colleges and universities.

Meanwhile, campus workers protested against the plan in the legislative office complex and outside the state Capitol on Tuesday with chants of “Tennessee is not for sale.”

The United Campus Workers have criticized what they call Haslam’s “outsourcing frenzy” for targeting benefits-paying jobs at public colleges and universities.

But Haslam’s outsourcing advisers and consultants say the plan could save $28 million on campuses each year, while protecting the jobs of all currently employed campus maintenance workers who are deemed to be “qualified and productive.”

Haslam agreed last month to hold an outside review of the privatization plan before having Tennessee’s higher education systems decide whether to participate.