Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Union steward: custodial cuts left Hammond schools understaffed
Summary
A SEIU union steward told the board that 64 custodian positions were lost after freezes and layoffs, leaving schools understaffed for routine cleaning, snow removal and midday coverage; he asked the board to convene management and union stewards to restore staff.
Larry Hardy, who identified himself as a School City of Hammond employee and SEIU union steward for about 20 years, told the board during public comment that a combination of earlier frozen positions and later layoffs left the district short about 64 custodians. "Taking the 19 positions that we previously frozen and the additional 45 lay off, the total loss of custodians were 64 custodians," Hardy said, urging trustees to allow union stewards and management to meet and discuss bringing custodians back.
Hardy described practical consequences he said followed the cuts: kitchen staff were temporarily assigned to cleaning duties when kitchen staffing was insufficient, sidewalks were not salted or shoveled on time, and many elementary schools had only one person on the day shift. He asked the board to "hear us out" and negotiate an equitable solution.
What the meeting record shows: Hardy's claim about 64 positions came in public comment; the meeting record does not contain an immediate district response with a separate staffing total or timeline for rehiring. Other public speakers later echoed concerns about janitorial workloads and suggested revisiting duties for kitchen staff paid through federal funds.
Provenance: Statements from Larry Hardy during public comment (SEG 500'SEG 541).
