Students can expect to see more custodians working during the day due to a schedule change - which decreases custodians' pay - that will require some of them to work during the early morning and business hours instead of late at night.
The custodial staff is transitioning to a schedule of 10 hours a day, four days a week.
Some custodians are unhappy with the change and say they will now be working too many hours in one day.
According to a longtime employee - who wished to remain anonymous for fear of disciplinary action - no one on the custodial staff likes the change.
"A four-day workweek for UNM to save money - it's too much," she said.
The custodians are also unhappy about losing pay because of the schedule change. They earn 40 cents more per hour working overnight.
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Mary Vosevich, director of the Physical Plant Department, said this is an unfortunate but unavoidable downside.
"We will evaluate that as well, but so far the benefits are far greater," she said.
Vosevich said she hasn't heard any negative feedback and doesn't know why custodians would be unhappy.
The custodial staff of about 135 people has the option to begin working a shift from 4:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Vosevich said. About 35 custodians have opted to change their schedules.
However, custodians hired from now on must work the 4:30 a.m. shift, said Gary Smith, associate director of Environmental Services.
Smith said people will eventually be moved to day shifts, including the one beginning at 4:30 a.m., because having people work on campus overnight is a strain on the University.
"It's a problem for supervision and managerial support," he said. "We need to continue the process and get things moved over as soon as we can."
Vosevich said the University changed the schedule in part to conserve energy.
"If we're not running those buildings all night long, we save energy," she said. "Given the cost of energy, that's a pretty big deal right now."
Vosevich said the new schedule also improves safety for the custodial staff. She said that before the change, some workers voiced concerns about being in vacant buildings overnight.
The new schedule gives custodians three days off. However, seniority played a role in deciding which days off would be given to each staff member, which has made it difficult for many with families, custodian David Aragon said.
Two other shifts are available and offer workers the flexibility they may need, she said.
Custodial worker Mary Cruz Valenzuela said she has opted to keep her five-day workweek.
"Ten hours is too long - I have to cook and take care of my family," she said. "I get tired."
Vosevich said everyone at UNM seems happy with the change. It allows the building occupants to interact with the custodians and the custodians to know whom they are serving, she said.
"We see some positive interaction there, and that is good," Vosevich said.
There is also an increase in productivity when people work day shifts, she said.
"We're trying to look at the whole picture here," Vosevich said. "Not only the benefits to UNM, but the benefits to the employee as well."
Martha Varona, who has worked at UNM for eight years, has opted to begin the four-day schedule. She said the extra day off is a great benefit to her family.
"I like it - I have more time to stay home and for my husband and children," she said.
The custodial union is involved in the process and is working with UNM during this transition, Smith said.
"We're evaluating it, and we're going to see if we're getting the results that we anticipated," Vosevich said. "At that time, we will decide how we will move forward."
