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OPSEU says latest eHealth fiasco shows need to bring privatized work in-house

“This work should be done in-house,” Thomas said. “Compared to these private companies, we really can do it better and cheaper in the public sector.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President

Toronto (23 June 2015) — A $26.9 million government payment to a private company for work not completed is yet another sign that the province needs to bring contracted-out work back into the public sector, the President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) says.

Privatization of IT has history of failures and fiascos in Ontario

“Privatization has a lousy track record in Ontario, whether you’re talking about medical lab tests or highway maintenance, but there’s something special about contracting out information technology,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “From the Andersen Consulting mess 20 years ago to the Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) disaster this year, IT privatization has been synonymous with broken promises and extra costs.

“This work should be done in-house,” Thomas said. “Compared to these private companies, we really can do it better and cheaper in the public sector.”

IT contractors charge two to three times more than in-house public employees

Thomas made the remarks after an arbitrator’s ruling last week ordered eHealth Ontario to pay $26.9 million to a contractor for work done on an online registry for diabetes patients even though the registry was never completed and never used.

“Outsourcing of IT services has exploded under the Liberals over the last few years, despite the fact that their own consultant’s report found IT contractors charge two to three times more than it would cost to have public employees perform the work in-house,” Thomas said.

Contracting out means losing expertise and higher costs

The government must rebuild its capacity to manage and deliver IT projects, the OPSEU President said.

“Contracting out has meant layoffs for my members,” he said. “When you lay off staff, you lose expertise, and when you lose expertise you lose the ability to oversee contractors,” he said. “When managers don’t know what they’re buying, and contractors know they don’t know, that’s when you get into trouble."

“I’ve got a simple solution: bring the work in-house.”

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE