Custodians —
Building a Quality Workforce

Downsizing Schemes Work Against the Quality Workforce

Privatization Is Not the Answer

Privatizing any portion of the custodian workforce is an insult to the school, the children, and the community. Privatization cuts services and cannot provide the same for less. Privatization threats are often used by BOEs in order to "get the attention of the Local" so that they can achieve certain ends in negotiations, or merely in an often successful attempt to split the Local, or "Union-Bust." Often the BOE and the community know very little about the unique and special contribution of custodians in the school district. This ignorance feeds general prejudice about the job custodians really do: "custodians just clean." As a result of this wrong perception, custodians are often the first to be attacked with rumors and threats of privatization.

In order to successfully counter threats and attacks by BOE, custodians must participate actively in educating administrations and the community. Custodians must first define and describe accurately who we are, and then communicate that information as clearly and comprehensively as possible. One of the first methods of communication should be an accurate and meaningful Result-Oriented Job Description.

Privatization creates a disconnected, transient, non-resident group of workers, who are poorly paid and not committed to the school district or the community. The majority of public school custodians live in their school district, work in their school district, and vote in their school district. Public school custodians are indeed "the resident roots of the neighborhood school."

(See NEA Training Program: Organizing the Offense: Campaigning Against Privatization)

"Permanent Part-Timers" Is a Cheap and Short-sighted Practice

Often short-sighted cost cutters replace full-time employees with part-timers. Under some temporary conditions, part-time positions may be necessary, but a permanent part-time employment practice sends the wrong message to custodians and all school staff. The part-time school custodian is not included in the Quality Workforce, nor does he or she receive medical coverage and benefits. This part-time commitment by employers returns part-time quality. A custodial quality workforce is full-time and fully committed, to the staff, the children, the students, the school, and the community.

"Team Cleaning" Is Wrong for Public Schools

This system, conceived by privateers, reduces the number of employees and expects more productivity in less time when motivated by peer pressure. Team cleaning was originally created for empty office buildings, not crowded classrooms or evening activity areas. The notion that team cleaning will work in schools is wrong. Team cleaning is about robots. Schools are about students and quality education.

"Square Footage National Standard" Is a Myth

Some school boards try to apply a "National Square Footage Standard" to their custodian's duties. Some of these so-called standards even include a formula, like multiplying the number of students times density times square feet, etc. The point of this "formula" is a simple one — push productivity at all costs. In reality, back in the school building, this is a myth developed by privateers that is short-sighted and a shortcut that results in less quality. The creation of any school square footage standard involves so many variables as to make it unworkable in any environment with people in it.

Constant Shift Change Is Abuse

Some downsizing efforts move employees from shift to shift rather than hire the additional full time personnel. A regular work week and a regular work-shift are important to everyone. Constantly changing a custodian's shift disrupts more than his or her work schedule. Under this system a school custodian has little advance notice of school activities planned for the students, and is kept uninformed and separated from the rest of the school workforce. If additional personnel cannot be hired, then unusual workload situations should be covered by overtime, not constant shift changes.

To Section 4: Guarding the School Environment