The University of Windsor will take steps to enhance the student experience within the three buildings that handle the highest amount of student traffic volumes on campus.

The CAW Student Centre, the Human Kinetics Building and St. Denis Centre complex and the Leddy Library have been identified as the buildings that require increased custodial services, given the University of Windsor’s growing enrolment.

Upon careful consideration of budget constraints and the increasing demand for custodial services, custodial work within these three buildings will be provided by an outside provider. This will not affect any currently employed custodial staff and is in accordance with the CUPE 1001 collective agreement.

“Across the institution, we are looking for ways of using our resources most effectively for our students, while protecting the jobs of our current custodial employees,” said UWindsor president Alan Wildeman. “We recognize the need to increase the service levels of custodial work across campus and have an affordable approach for the three facilities with the highest volumes of student traffic. The changes will take effect in January 2013. At that time, existing employees in these buildings will be redeployed to other buildings on campus to increase service levels in those areas.”

The CUPE 1001 collective agreement states there is an “obligation of the Employer to undertake the operations and administration of the University of Windsor in the most efficient and economic manner possible in order that it may satisfactorily discharge its public responsibilities.”

The changes fully respect the collective agreement: “… no Bargaining Unit Employee employed by the Employer before July 31, 2010, and who has completed their probationary period shall be laid off by reason of the Employer contracting out the work being performed by such employee at the time of contracting out.”

The University will follow standard procurement practices to identify a provider of custodial services in the weeks to come.