Just before the holidays, UVM Facilities Management informed UE 267 members on the grounds crew of their intent to lay off the department in favor of private contractors. This is an unacceptable decision that will cause the UVM community real harm. Laying off the grounds crew would:

• Compromise the safety and accessibility of UVM by removing workers who are trained and equipped to respond quickly to ice on walkways, broken tree limbs, used needles, etc.
• Directly undermine UVM’s stated responsibility to “educate Vermonters, strengthen the health and economic well-being of our state, and serve all its people” by sending University dollars to an out-of-state construction conglomerate
• Eliminate the positions of two out of the five UE 267 executive board members, unfairly targeting the local and its ability to represent its members
• Abandon years of progress on UVM’s sustainability by returning from electric to gas-operated landscaping equipment, and scrapping plans for expanding pollinator gardens which would beautify our campus and help the natural environment

There are so many more reasons why UVM should keep its in-house grounds crew. Please reach out to ue267uvm@gmail.com to learn more. Help us tell UVM Facilities Management that layoffs are not the answer!