MIAMI (September 27, 2006)—For a number of men and women who keep Florida International University clean, an initiative announced today will mean higher-paying jobs and full state benefits, including health insurance.
The university administration is putting in place a plan that converts approximately 150 currently outsourced custodial positions into jobs to be filled by university employees. This plan is the latest of several human resources initiatives adopted by the university in recent months that have already resulted in higher pay and better benefits for FIU employees.
“We are glad to make this possible,” said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “It’s the right thing to do.”
The transition to in-house custodial workers will begin immediately and current custodial workers will be granted the first interviews for the new positions. The plan, which ultimately will cost the university $1.8 million a year, calls for the new custodial workers’ starting wage to be set at $9.58 per hour, which is the federal living wage. This represents a 50 percent increase over the current starting wage.
“Since local boards were granted authority over these issues three years ago, we have been analyzing options to improve human resources practices,” said CFO and Senior Vice President for Administration and Human Resources Vivian Sanchez. “We have decided to make this significant investment because this is an opportunity to leverage existing operations and address employee concerns simultaneously.”
Sanchez explained that the university currently manages its own custodial operations in the student union building and in residence halls. The transition will be facilitated by the relatively modest start-up and ongoing maintenance costs associated with expanding the operation.
Rick Berry, a past president of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, says that he has seen a reversal of the outsourcing trend at the national level.
“Janitorial services are being brought back in-house in counties, cities and universities all over the country,” said Berry, who serves as executive director of construction and procurement services at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
Berry said that an important reason for the reversal of the trend is the ability the institution gains to promote and retain good people, thus raising morale among workers.
For a number of the custodial workers currently working at FIU under contract with private firms, today’s announcement means trading their $13,000 yearly income for a $20,000-a-year state job with benefits that include vacation, sick leave, disability, retirement plans, tuition waiver for the employee and family members and a choice of several health insurance plans. Benefits raise total compensation to approximately $29,000 a year.
All FIU custodial workers are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which recently signed a new contract with the university.
Three years ago, the state granted its universities the authority to negotiate contracts, determine employee benefits and establish terms and conditions of employment. This process, typically referred to as devolution, set in motion a series of changes, including new human resources practices that have been recognized for Progressive Workplace Innovations at the national level by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. Since the process started, most employees have gained benefits, better working conditions and higher pay. Also, as part of this process, long-term FIU employees are being offered the opportunity to convert from temporary to permanent employment with full benefits.
-- FIU --
Media Contact: Maydel Santana-Bravo, santanam@fiu.edu or 305-348-1555
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