Custodians Say: “Don’t hire contractors to do our job!”

What do you do if you’re a Community College and your most senior, highest paid custodial workers are responsible for maintaining your campus floors? Simply give the job to less expensive contractors in violation of your contract. At least that’s what Harbor College has been doing.

Two years ago, the school installed new linoleum in the Student Union building. The school brought in outside workers to polish the floors. “The contractor did such a poor job that the brand new floors were ruined in a day. It takes a certain amount of craftsmanship to strip, wax, and properly polish those floors. The contractors either didn’t know the craft or they were cutting corners. You get what you pay for and the District didn’t seem to want to pay for highly skilled, quality work,” said Troylynn Limar, Local 99 Steward for Harbor College. “They used the Custodial Department equipment and supplies to do the work, too!”

Carlos Diaz, a custodian at Harbor, reports that they’re at it again. Outside contractors were brought in last month to refinish the gymnasium floor. “They didn’t even paint the basketball court lines—they’re just taped on! And they didn’t varnish the court. It’s already showing wear just from the few games and practices.

“We more junior workers want to learn these skills from the senior workers. We want to move up the ladder. But instead of allowing us to do the work and get training, the district hires it out. They claimed that the contractors have better equipment. That excuse doesn’t add up, though, when the final product is of such poor quality.”

We have notified the campuses in question that we believe this to be a violation of our contract and have let them know another incident like this will be followed by action.