University of Missouri will not outsource custodians at this time
COLUMBIA, Mo.
University of Missouri leaders said Thursday that the school will not outsource its custodial work, for now.
MU had considered since May outsourcing its custodians as a way to save money amid the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent drops in revenue. In a message to campus sent Thursday, Vice Chancellor for Operations Gary Ward said MU has decided to keep the work in-house.
MU had also considered outsourcing its landscapers. Last month the school said the proposals would not save the amount of money needed to make the move.
That was not the case with custodians, Ward said Thursday.
"The university received multiple proposals indicating that millions of dollars could be saved with outsourcing," Ward said in the message emailed to campus. "However, in consideration of the long-term service of our employees, the university will work with the union representing custodial employees over the next several months to find savings and other considerations to avoid outsourcing.
"If the university is unable to achieve savings, it will look to outsource this service."
The plan to outsource landscaping and custodial work sparked rhetorical clashes between MU leadership and the union that represents the workers. At one point some workers were warned that a protest they conducted inside Jesse Hall violated MU's rules and regulations.
The university has already laid off 173 workers and thousands more have taken furloughs and pay cuts to make up for declining revenue and increasing costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Budget officers have been told to prepare for 12.5 percent cuts in the new fiscal year, which began July 1.
MU said in a news release that the university spent about $12.3 million and employed about 250 people in custodial services in the last fiscal year.
The university has lost about $35 million in state revenue since the COVID-19 pandemic began and given out millions of dollars in refunds to students and their families, according to the release.
