The University of Idaho Facilities Services building is located on the far west end of campus, on the other side of the Kibbie Dome and its parking lot. The teal-roofed building is one few students have even noticed, let alone been in or experienced.
Upon arrival, friendly faces welcome you in. The building is flush with shops and equipment used to maintain the centuries-old UI campus.
What it is not flush with is people.
Many people who work in the department have been around for decades, long-standing figures as integral to the university’s success as administrative higher-ups and yet glossed over by many without a second thought. But the number of people working to maintain the campus has only dwindled over the years.
And that number may dwindle even more as the university works through budget issues, according to an employee of the department with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity to protect their job.
In the wake of a budget crisis, facilities is one of the four considered units for outsourcing, with an estimated reduction budget of $2 million. And yet, $2 million feels like nickels and dimes when observing the projected $22 million total deficit.
As the university looks to ‘leave no stone unturned’ in the search for a solution, is this truly a stone we can afford to turn over?
To some, the word ‘facilities’ is an easily replaceable term, eerily similar to the faceless, nameless entities many may associate them with as they are seen navigating their daily routines.
But that’s not who they are, and further cuts or outsourcing to the department is not the solution.
Each and every student on campus has now hopefully seen the cracks in UI’s foundation — varied, deep lines, often figurative and now quite literal in the wake of last week’s ISUB/Teaching and Learning Center flooding.
Facilities services exists to help cover up those physical cracks the moment they unfold — they are doing their job if we don’t know it. When facilities has the time and resources to properly assist in campus operations, no one bats an eye. In many ways they are UI’s unsung heroes, the people working behind the scenes to fix the issues we don’t perceive. They don’t do it for the recognition. These employees stay with the university because they care.
If the university moves forward with outsourcing the department, it does not inherently and exclusively mean a loss of jobs for those employees, but the overall management and job structure could change.
It’s hard to believe the best course of action is to effectively reduce the university’s ability to problem solve. UI has remained a beautiful, thoughtfully maintained campus through many administrative changes and directional shifts.
Through the years, the constant has been facilities workers willing to devote their time and energy to a loyal cause. With changes imminent, that loyal cause may be no more.
This may be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
— Editorial Board
Greg Goodson
Administration is thinking that thy can outsource facilities and that the company will hire the workers. That would probably require a cut in pay. The trades are under paid compared to private industry. We understand that and accept that. We work here for benefits retirement and the other intangibles that we receive. If we have to go and work in the private sector we will require private sector wages. If this out sourcing becomes reality I see a lot of resignations. The university will lose experienced staff. The university will suffer. I hope the U of I will change course and not stab the workers in the back. We didn't cause the budget problem, but, it looks like we will be the ones to suffer the consequences.