[Excerpt] Confronted with mounting fiscal problems, many state and local government officials consider privatization or contracting out of public services a "quick fix" for their difficulties. The on-the-job experience of the 1.2 million members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) at all levels of government shows that the use of private firms to deliver public services has serious consequences—including deterioration of service, increased and hidden costs, corruption, and negative social effects on the community.