Local 965 Helps Stop Outsourcing Plan

University of Arkansas AEA Chapter Organized Opposition

By Ben Pollock, Local 965 Vice President

FAYETTEVILLE — An outsourcing proposal foisted on several hundred University of Arkansas employees was felled in two months.

In late January, custodial and grounds workers were emailed a notice (PDF posted by KNWA-TV/KFTA-TV) that the university and the company SSC Services for Education (a division of The Compass Group) were analyzing whether privatizing their divisions in whole or in part was advisable.

The plan was not otherwise made public at the time.

Within days, leaders of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965 began hearing from custodians and their supervisors, some or all of whom would be outsourced if Chancellor Charles Robinson approved the proposal. 

These service professionals were told to expect that their salaries would stay the same and benefits should be similar under SSC. These terms, however, apparently were still being discussed. They did stand to lose one key benefit: the substantial UA tuition discounts offered to employees, their spouses and dependent children unless they already were enrolled to study.

Research indicates similar outsourcing at public universities and public school districts results in new hires typically being paid less and, to hold costs down, that established employees are more vulnerable to losing their jobs, according to 965 board member Mike Pierce, an associate professor of history, whose analysis was published Feb. 21 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette here or here. 

Though conducting the feasibility study, SSC would have been its beneficiary. The privatization proposal would not be let for competitive bids from other businesses because SSC is “an approved contractor by the state of Arkansas,” Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Scott Turley told the UA Staff Senate on Feb. 14.

Over 2 dozen custodians or custodial supervisors packed the monthly meeting of Local 965 on Feb. 22. After they explained their concerns, union members present voted unanimously to draft and publish a resolution supporting them and also voted unanimously to organize a rally and march.

Local 965 includes UA faculty, staff (education service professionals) and student employees of the Fayetteville campus. This union’s constitution defines its purpose as representing its membership and advocating for all UA employees.

Collaborating on the resolution and organizing the rally were Local 965 President Hershel Hartford, Vice President Ben Pollock and Pierce.

In the weeks leading to the March 16 rally and march through campus, the university’s Staff Senate published its resolution (PDF) of support, and the area’s print, radio and TV news media reported on the debate over the proposal.

Some 50 employees, their family members and supporters as well as Local 965 members and others gathered for the rally March 16 at St. Martin’s Episcopal Center, across Maple Street from campus. The group waved signs and chanted slogans as they then strode through campus to gather at the Administration Building for closing speeches.

Two TV stations and the Democrat-Gazette reported on the march.

Twelve days later, on March 28, Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration Ann Bordelon emailed campus leaders that the plan was being dropped, which was followed March 29 with a public statement.

Local 965 is staying vigilant while the university continues “to cultivate efficiencies,” as Bordelon states, “We will continue to adapt as necessary to enhance the overall university experience as the market evolves and the campus community grows.”