FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas (U of A) is considering outsourcing its custodial and grounds services, leaving some worried about their employment.
Custodians and groundskeepers at the university have been contacting 5NEWS with concerns about losing their jobs and benefits. Hershel Hartford, President of the UA-Fayetteville Education Association, has been working with the employees to have their concerns voiced.
"A letter was provided to custodial services workers, stating that they were there was going to be an evaluation by a company known as SSC, to evaluate the possibility of basically outsourcing the custodial and ground services," Hartford said.
In the letter acquired from the U of A, administrators explain current custodians and groundskeepers could see no changes, a hybrid approach, or a full external management transition of all functions.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Scott Turley signed the letter and says they're currently in what he would call "a discovery phase" as SSC Services for Education assesses.
Turley explains that they previously outsourced to supplement groundskeeping in the summer which he states, "was very successful." They say the decision to work with SSC is because there's an existing contractual relationship through the state of Arkansas.
"We're providing them you know, all the information around kind of our staffing levels, what shifts house shifts are staffed, things that were important to our employees, what wages are they being paid what the benefits package looks like," Turley said.
Hartford explained that workers have been concerned about losing their benefits and job security long-term with the move. He tells 5NEWS that the group even created a petition that garnered over 400 signatures.
"Administration has often called them the backbone of what we do here at the university. These people are our friends. These people are our co-workers. They are folks who have committed themselves they've invested their lives, their time, and their efforts to be a part of this university community. And a change now to an outsourced or even hybrid model would vastly change their quality of life," Hartford said.
One benefit exclusive to university employees is why some of those cleaning Old Main can find their name outside on Senior Walk. The employee tuition discount can be used by employees, their spouses and their children to attend the University of Arkansas. Hartford said other services like dining, the post office, the bookstore, and the print and copy services had previously been outsourced. It's why many of the custodians and groundskeepers are worried.
"[Outsourced employees] are not university employees. The university employee benefit does not state that it's about people who work on campus. It's about people who work for the University of Arkansas," Hartford said.
When asked about the concern of the contractor firing employees soon after the transition, Turley said "all those things are still to be worked out, but it's certainly our intent that our employees are taken care of. These types of contracts tend to run long-term so, a typical term is 8 to 10 years. So we would expect the conditions of that contract to be honored over that full time."
"Our intent is to ensure that everyone has a benefits package that's comparable to what they have with the university now," Turley added. "On the tuition discount program, we've already said that any person who's already taking advantage of that, so that'd be the employee, their spouse or their children would get that benefit, it would grandfather in and carry across."
"All of our workers come together and take pride in their work and take pride in the fact that they are a Razorback. They take pride in the fact that they work at the University of Arkansas," Hartford said.
According to the letter, the assessment began at the end of January. Turley says they expect results from SSC by the end of March and then the decision will be made by Chancellor Charles Robinson.
Anyone with concerns should contact their supervisor, or Turley says those with concerns can contact facilities directly.
The U of A posted an article to its website reviewing the situation. To read more, click here.
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