Contract Mowing at Schools Riles Labor

Upset that lawn mowing for Oak Park schools will be performed by outside contractors, the district’s classified employees have walked out on contract talks, according to school officials.

Jim Long, president of the classified employees union local, said it is important that employees not back down.

“Let them start with the smallest of jobs, lawn mowing, and before you know it, the district will be contracting out everyone,” said Long, who represents about 100 nonteaching employees, such as food service and custodial workers.

Long, who is also the grounds supervisor for Oak Park schools, said three groundskeepers spend most of their time mowing the district’s 95 acres of grass. With the mowing done by outside contractors, Long said he worries those three positions will become obsolete.

The school board said those workers will be assigned new tasks.

“The district is committed to ensuring the continued employment of current grounds employees and has in fact increased the number of classified employees in recent years,” the board said in a statement.

At a meeting Tuesday night, school board Vice President Bob Kahn said he would like to continue the negotiations that broke off that afternoon.

“The district and board are prepared to work through every issue until each is resolved,” said Supt. Marilyn Lippiatt.

Long was not optimistic.

“It doesn’t look good for us,” he said.