University of Central Oklahoma
The Student Voice Since 1903
THURSDAY July 10, 1997
UCO employees face job loss; Independent contractors considered
U
CO is cleaning up its campus and may be hiring new people to do it. Approximately 20 custodians were notified last week that university officials submitted a proposal suggesting elimination of their jobs. Under the proposal, custodians would be replaced by an independent contracting firm. Don Powers, facilities management administrator, said the university began considering outside contractors when it became apparent certain buildings were not being serviced properly by the staff. Powers said if the request to take bids from independent custodial contractors is approved, the current custodial staff would be terminated sometime in October or November. "Our concern is having clean buildings," Powers said. "We don't feel that we've The issue is been getting the service we clean facilities need to have from our inand how can we house staff. It's something best get that. we've struggled with for a good long time." —Don Powers Custodial contractors are facilities mgmt. not new to UCO. The administrator university currently contracts 70 percent of its custodial work, Powers said. The remaining 30 percent is handled by UCO staff custodians. Powers said he was satisfied with the current outside contractors, but added there are problems with the contract that, if the new proposal passes, would be rectified. The cost to the university to contract 100 percent of its custodial service is not expected to change much from what is spent in the current 70/30 split, Powers said. Current outside contracts represent approximately $600,000 annually, while in-house staff costs close to $300,000, he said. But cost is not the determining factor in this decision, said Powers "The issue is clean facilities and how can we best get that." A —By Steven E. Wedel Staff Writer
Wagons ho... UCO President Roger Webb waves to the crowd at the Fourth of July parade in downtown Edmond. There were more than 100 entries for the parade and approximately 50,000 spectators attended the morning event. (Photo by Daniel Smith)
INSIDE TODAY INDEX
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