We Will March for All UA Workers

Oppose Further Privatization of UA Employees

March 16 Rally & March Supports Custodians & Groundskeepers

Press Release and Public Announcement

The independent organization for University of Arkansas employees is fighting with and for the custodial and grounds staffs of the Fayetteville campus.

UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965, backed by its resolution supporting the custodial and grounds teams, plans a rally and march for Saturday afternoon, March 16, 2024. The rally, comprising brief speeches, will be at 2 p.m. at St. Martin’s Episcopal Center at the University of Arkansas, 814 W. Maple St. The media and public are invited.

Then a march comprising Local 965 members, custodians and groundskeepers — and their colleagues, friends, families and supporters — starts there by 2:45 p.m. The group will cross Maple and march though campus to the Administration Building, 1125 W. Maple St.

Administrators have been developing a plan to transfer groundskeepers and custodians to a private company. While current employees are expected to retain salary levels, they stand to lose some key benefits, such as terrific tuition discounts if they or family members have not yet enrolled. New custodians and groundskeepers can expect lower salaries, and current employees moved out of the public sector can be fired at will. (The bookstore and food services are already outsourced.)

“These workers, like all of us at the U of A, came here to work FOR the University of Arkansas and not just work AT the University of Arkansas,” said Local 965 President Hershel Hartford, summarizing comments made by workers at the union’s February meeting.

Contact Form for more information and to ask questions.

Further reading

• Resolved: UA Workers Oppose Privatization, March 2, 2024
• SSC: Not an Employer of Choice, Feb. 21, 2024
• UA Administrators Study Handing Custodial, Groundskeeping Crews to Private Company, Feb. 20, 2024
• News media coverage (to be updated)