Budget cuts hurt hard-working janitors

At an early morning meeting at the University of Washington, a handful of janitors and students gathered to discuss the recent impact of budget cuts. Alternating between their native tongues, some expressed their frustration, while others couldn’t find the words in English.

“What can we do?”

A majority of the janitors are immigrants from East Africa, and many have worked for the university for years. It is difficult for some to navigate the system. A couple of university students, in between studying for finals, have tirelessly taken on their cause.

With budget cuts looming, custodians at the UW are fearful of losing their jobs. The ones that remain are fighting back against a controversial measure that would make it difficult for them to keep their jobs. In an attempt to save the university roughly $50,000, custodians working an evening shift will be switched to the day shift.

Transferring from the swing shift (which starts at 4:30 p.m. and lasts to 1 a.m.) to the day shift (which begins at 5 a.m.) creates hardships for custodians who work second jobs or take care of their children.

Cleaning toilets and mopping floors is backbreaking work.

With 17 custodians laid off and 29 other vacant custodial positions eliminated, other custodians will have to pick up the slack. Custodians anticipate they will be responsible for cleaning about 40,000 square feet, more than twice the area custodians were responsible for 20 years ago.

“I have to cover the shifts of three or four people when someone is sick or on vacation,” explained one woman. “Before they hired temp workers. Not anymore. Now there is pressure to do other jobs,” she lamented.

She was also concerned about retaliation: “Please don’t put the building name or my name in the newspaper. I don’t want trouble.”

The custodial department is a microcosm of the dire state of our economy. Yes, people are losing their jobs. The university needs to cut corners. These are all understandable concerns, but it isn’t right. The university should look for alternative ways to save so it doesn’t hurt these hard-working families.

Budget cuts were finalized June 11 by the UW Board of Regents. The janitors at the UW are not making grand requests. They just want to be heard.

Mary Andom,

2007 Western Washington University graduate,

daughter of UW custodian,

Seattle, Wash.