Zero Dark Thursday game-day parking affects housekeepers

While thousands in the UNC community enjoyed the Zero Dark Thursday game, the experience was not the same for some UNC employees.

Following the Oct. 17 game, James Holman, a crew leader for housekeeping services, wrote a letter to The Daily Tar Heel voicing his concerns about how UNC treated housekeepers on game day.
Some of the disruptions Holman described were employees being forced to leave early without the opportunity to make up time while the second- and third-shift employees had to go off campus and be bused to the University.

Holman said in an interview employees were required to be on time despite the fact that they were not in control of their transportation.

“We’re the ones taking care of staff, faculty and the rest of the University. Why should we have to be subjected to this for an athletic event?” he said.

Holman said he wanted to express his concerns so University leaders would think twice and be better prepared.

“It’s all yet another example of how athletics at UNC can so easily dominate what happens on campus — in this case, without much regard for the needs of the employees … even those who help to make those lucrative athletic events the successes that they are,” he said in his letter.
Holman said he received complaints from other employees, which was his motivation to write the letter. He said since the letter was published he has received some calls from people who feel he has stepped on some toes.

“This was not a forum letter. It was my personal opinion,” he said.

Darius Dixon, director of housekeeping, declined to comment on the matter.

Anna Wu, assistant vice chancellor for facilities operations, planning and design, said all employees received an email about changes to their workday to accommodate the Thursday night game.
“Our first-shift employees were given the option to adjust their work schedule during the week and were not required to take accumulated paid time off,” Wu said in an email.

She said most employees chose to rearrange their schedules, adding that those who chose to work during the game were provided with alternative parking spaces.

Liz Hawryluk, co-chairwoman of the Campus Y’s Coalition for Human Rights, said the University needs to provide a more inclusive working environment for all the employees.

“It’s inhibiting their ability to work and to work when they so choose,” she said.

As a matter of workers’ rights in the University, Hawryluk said it is important to advocate for more respect in the University community for all faculty and staff.

“We need to make sure they are voicing their concerns and not that we are just projecting our own.”

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