Category | News

Painters relieved of services

Published on February 10, 2009 by Andy Nelson

KSU’s painter unit is being relieved.
One of the longest-serving sets of employees at the school, this unit consisted of four painters, all of which were considered full-time employees at the university. 

According to Arlethia Perry-Johnson, special assistant to the president for external affairs, as well as the representative of the president’s perspective, this decision was made by the administration at the Cabinet level a year and a half ago and was passed down to John Anderson, director of the Facilities Department. 

The Office of Business and Finance Web site states, “the Facilities mission is to provide effective and efficient support services to the academic community by maintaining an attractive, safe learning environment at minimal costs to the university.”

As such, Perry-Johnson stated that the painters are being relieved of their services due to a re-engineering process, which will allow the university to operate in a more efficient and costly manner. Taking their place will be a new unit of contract painters, which will not be affiliated with KSU. 

According to Perry-Johnson, the painter unit worked Monday - Friday during the same hours as the other faculty members at the university. Moving to a contract company will allow the new painters to work off-hours as well as during breaks. There is also hope that the savings that will result from this transition will help to alleviate the budget crisis the university is currently facing. 

“It’s always sad when we have to do any kind of reduction. They’ve done a very valuable service to the university,” said Perry-Johnson.

The four painters have worked for the university for thirty years, fifteen years, five years, and one year, respectively. The thirty-year and fifteen-year employees are eligible for retirement, while the other two will be relieved from employment.

Perry-Johnson emphasized that this decision was made a year and a half ago and has nothing to do with the current state of the economy. She said she would also like the painters to know that they were valuable members of the KSU family.

“We would like to express thanks and compassion to the entire unit. We know this comes at a difficult time,” she said. 

At this time, there are no further plans to downsize employment.