May 22, 2021 10p
(WGTD)---Four Democratic state legislators from the area are asking UW-Parkside to reconsider its decision to privatize its custodial and grounds staff.
The school announced last month that two dozen Parkside employees will be laid off, and rehired by Tennessee-based SSC Service Solutions.
The announcement said that the employees would maintain their current salary and seniority levels. But there was no mention about benefits or a pension.
The letter asking the school to reconsider was signed by State Senator Bob Wirch and state representatives Tip McGuire, Tod Ohnstad and Greta Neubauer.
There was no immediate response from Parkside, although the April notice distributed to staff indicated that the move to privatize would enable the school to better leverage resources.
The legislators say the move is particularly unjust because the custodians were required to report to campus during the pandemic while other staff was able to work from home.
"During a tour of UW-Parkside facilities not so long ago, it was said that the custodial staff are considered part of the 'Parkside family'," the letter reads. "We ask that you treat them as such and reconsider this decision," it said.
-0-