Union cut's effects felt by campus
By Megan Helgeson, writer
October 20, 2007 | 10:56 a.m.
The unstable state of the university budget has resulted in job cuts being made to the janitorial staff with devastating effects on campus cleanliness. The budget for the Athens’ campus is $350.5 million, and sources of revenue include state support, tuition and other fees. The current state biennium budget has put a freeze on tuition. While this means there will be no increase in the university’s general fee, it means less money is available to budget.
“The university is in debt because there are not as many freshmen as was hoped for,” Elizabeth Riordan, a resident assistant on East Green, said. “Some also say it is because we are building so much.” At least 24 union jobs have been cut, including housekeeping, zone maintenance and custodial positions.
The reduction of staff has students worrying about the cleanliness of the facilities they use.
“The quality of the work will diminish and the staff will have to work twice as hard to compensate,” freshman Caitlin Bowling said.
Flyers distributed by the union has detailed changes being made in cleaning schedules, saying, “All buildings on campus will be cleaned less. Trash will be emptied from some buildings no more than twice a week, stairwells will be swept only once per month, and lobbies and hallways will not be cleaned everyday.”
“Overall, jobs will not get done good enough because there is not enough people,” said Marvin Nichols, a housekeeper in Washington Hall. Nichols has been working for OU for 19 years, nine of which have been part time. Informational picket activity has raised awareness for these issues, and flyers have shed light on effects employees feel.
One flyer states, “Employees moving to other jobs will take as much as a $5 pay cut, and some full-time employees will have to commute all the way to Zanesville to keep their jobs.”
When asked about transferring to other university jobs, Nichols said, “People working in the lowest positions might get bumped to a branch of the university.”
Union jobholders are not pleased with the situation. Action has been taken through picketing in front of Baker University Center and a demonstration on College Green. Another tactic being used to raise awareness is the work being done by remaining union employees.
“You can see that less work is being done,” Nichols said.
Students have expressed concern regarding these issues. Bowling stated that she would be willing to contact an official to voice her disapproval.
"Within a community, everyone is important," Bowling said. "Even the smallest straw has a purpose."
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