Zachary Kahler has spent the past four years helping out on the University of Arkansas grounds crew. Heavy Equipment Operator is both his official and informal employment title.
“I’m the best at cutting grass,” Kahler boasted. The two of us mow most of the lawns.”
Ultimately, he admits that he and his buddy lawn cutter have been making fun of it for a while. “We’re both extremely talented,” he remarked.
According to him, he and his colleagues like doing it.
“The level of dedication I’ve witnessed from individuals who are prepared to wake up at 2 in the morning to work diligently in a Kubota without heat, enduring the cold, all in the name of ensuring that students, faculty, and anybody else visiting the university can come here safely… ” I don’t know what else to call it if that isn’t passion.
Late in January, Kahler learnt that he and his employer may soon be facing some changes.
According to Kahler, “We won’t be employees of the university anymore” because they have been advised that they are seriously considering going with an outside supplier.
A recording of the meeting, presided over by Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Scott Turley and held on January 30th, was obtained by Ozarks at Large.
“To begin with, there has been no decision,” Turley stated. Our decision was to contact a company called SSC to investigate this further.”
One for-profit company that caters specifically to universities is SSC Services for Education, which handles cleaning and grounds maintenance. Their website states SSC is actively involved with over fifty U.S. colleges and universities.
The University of Arizona has asked SSC to conduct a review, according to a letter given to campus employees by housekeeping and groundskeeping. From January 31st to February 1st, consultants from SSC will be visiting the site. These experts have extensive experience with campus landscape services and custodial work in higher education buildings. The letter continues by stating that the university will share the feedback it has obtained with its leadership in late February or early March. It explains that the university needs time to carefully analyse all relevant choices. Several possible outcomes arise from this study. These include doing nothing, taking a hybrid strategy that provides for some operations but not others, or completely outsourcing all functions to external management.
Mark Rushing serves as the primary spokesperson for the University of Alberta and is also an assistant vice chancellor for university relations. He argued that the university’s choice among those three alternatives will determine how many workers will be affected by the decision.
Rushing stated, “The potential would be a few hundred employees,” but he did not provide a precise number. He believed that the final decision-makers would determine this.
After fifteen years with the university, Brad Edwards now serves as housekeeping coordinator for the University of Arkansas. According to him, this is the first time anyone has promised him steady employment.
Edwards expressed concern about the potential impact on his livelihood. I am responsible for taking care of my home and my family. “Outsourcing would have a devastating effect on me.”
His first move was to gather signatures on a petition upon learning of the possible changes. Construction companies have a strong tradition of being dependable employees who put in long hours. When severe weather forces the university to close its doors, our custodians are among the first employees to report for duty. During the entire COVID-19 pandemic, they were our first line of defence. To help us urge our administration to reconsider the decision to outsource our employment, we ask for the same loyal support from our university community. According to Edwards, he gathered over 400 signatures from university faculty and personnel.
“My goal in pursuing this petition was to encourage as many individuals as possible to speak out, share their stories, and hope to have their jobs preserved,” Edwards stated. Obtaining a large number of signatures allowed me to make my voice heard. We have no plans to leave. No, they were leaving us now.
It is an honour for Kahler to work for the university, he stated.
According to Kahler, it was a universal sentiment. “We were guaranteed employment, and many have stated that they aren’t in it for the money, but rather the benefits.”
A full-time job grants access to rather substantial benefits, regardless of whether you are a tenured professor at the University of Arkansas or the top lawn cutter. These benefits include tuition discounts, retirement savings, and family health insurance. Full-time employees receive 90% tuition savings and half-price tuition for their spouses and children.
According to Rushing, the university has decided that everyone now taking advantage of the tuition discount program can continue and finish it anyway, so long as SSC is still in the works.
History professor Michael Pierce of the University of Arkansas frequently examines labour in his work. He expressed his apprehension upon learning about the possibility of outsourcing.
There is currently no scheduled timetable for an announcement, since Rushing mentioned that the assessment is still ongoing.
“Our main goal is to gather all the necessary information and consult with the relevant parties to arrive at the best decision,” stated Rushing. However, if that’s the final decision, the implementation of an external management team probably won’t happen until next fiscal year.”
Brad Edwards has stated that he must still decide whether to accept a post, even if the agreement is finalised.
Well, I’ll have to think about that. My health would suffer if our pay and benefits were to decrease.
Edwards freely admitted that he is not an outgoing person.
“However, since nobody is willing to speak out, I will.”
According to Zach Kahler, he has already decided.
She added that the news that Kahler would not join the new organisation was already widely known. The decision was made by the university. Once my services are no longer required, I shall initiate the process of obtaining a termination letter from HR. I am not working for any outside entity; rather, I have committed to working for the institution. I refuse to be reduced to a mere commodity and resold. That won’t happen while I’m in charge.
