FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Marcia Hope Goodwin – (407) 246-3107

ORLANDO WILL OPERATE
RAPID ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 

ORLANDO, FL (July 8, 2003) -- To improve efficiency in city operations, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is implementing the Rapid Assistance Program (RAP), which will supply 20 reliable, full-time employees to meet a variety of staffing needs in city departments.   

“This program will significantly reduce our need to contract with companies that provide day laborers, will improve productivity in many areas and will ensure a living wage for these employees,” Mayor Dyer said. 

The RAP Team employees will receive full city benefits and will be trained to do a variety of jobs, primarily in the Public Works and Families, Parks and Recreation departments.  The hourly pay rate will be $8.65, plus full benefits.  The employees will perform at a higher level than temporary day laborers because they will be cross-trained to perform multiple tasks.  These positions will be a part of the Laborers’ International Union (LIU) bargaining unit. 

City employees covered under this bargaining unit, whose positions were eliminated during Orlando’s reduction in force last month, have been invited to apply for the RAP team positions.  The program will cost approximately $141,000 for the remainder of the city’s fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2003.  It is estimated to cost less than $900,000 during fiscal year 2003/2004.  The program will be managed by the city’s Solid Waste Bureau, which will bill city departments that utilize RAP employees.

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