Porter shortage sparks crisis
DERWENT, VANBRUGH, and Wentworth porters’ lodges are to close in the wake of “protracted issues” between porters and management and amid concerns over student welfare. A “staff shortfall of 39%” has led to Keith Lilley, Director of Facilities Management, and Ken Batten, Head of Security, shutting down three of the seven college porters’ lodges until April.
When asked if the University felt there was a link between the new contracts for porters, which were delayed for a number of months due to resistance by staff, and the recent staff shortfall, University Press Officer David Garner admitted “I think it would be difficult to argue otherwise.” However, he maintains “I don’t think the University has made any mistakes.”
Protests against the University: closure of several porters’ lodges this week has led to angry reactions from many students, staff and acedemics. Photo: Adam Sloan.
The University maintains that the current situation, in which they are short by 14 porters and have another five on long-term sick leave, was “unforeseeable” This runs contrary to the claims of porters, one of whom told Nouse “they knew about this since August.”
According to porters, a number of their colleagues “clearly stated” they would refuse to work under the new contracts. When asked to comment on the assertion that the situation was “impossible to anticipate” a porter replied, “Batten is an out-and-out liar.”
There have been further concerns over management’s description of the closures as a “temporary measure.” Speaking to Derwent JCRC on Monday, Batten assured students that he was seeking to recruit a “good set of new staff in a reasonable period.” Despite this, Wednesday’s York Press carried advertisements for a ‘Car Park Attendant’ but not for a ‘porter.’ At the time of writing, the vacancies section of the University website also does not contain any advertisements for porter positions.
Rich Croker, YUSU President, has described the lack of website advertising as being “of real concern.” David Garner said he didn’t see any discrepancy between the University’s claims that it is seeking to recruit and the lack of advertising.
A number of porters have described the lodge closures as “a cost-cutting exercise” with one claiming “I think of the three lodges that have closed at least one will not re-open. That’s the general consensus among porters.” They point out that this is not the first time that management has sought to cut down on porters’ hours. In 2002 a plan to do away with 24 hour portering was abandoned after a student occupation of Heslington Hall.
A Derwent porter expressed concerns with what he described as the “dismantling” of his porters’ lodge as permanent fixture wall racks and staff lockers were removed. The University have said they are “absolutely confident” the new system is “robust.” When it was put to him by a Derwent JCR member that student welfare was at risk, Batten disagreed, saying the changes are a “difference of emphasis.” Porters, however, have stressed that student welfare is in jeopardy adding “you can’t physically have one porter covering all those locations.” When asked if he thought students were at risk he replied ‘definitely.’
Jack Chen
I am surprised to find out that Nouse’s rival, York Vision is yet to properly address our concerns on the recently shut-down of many college receptions. I could find was a short article on page 2, entitled “Croker: 24 hour portering must stay” on the latest issue, which is far from enough.
From the very beginning of this term, the University admin team, in the name of lack of staff, has shut down several colleges’ receptions with a promise of reopening them from after the Easter Vacation. But recent development clearly shows that their real intention is to test our reaction by ’slicing the sausage’. Shall we remain silent on this matter, I am worried that the reopening in April will merely be a lip service, the shut-downs might end up permanently and further reduce of facilities will be followed.
I believe most of us would share the same feeling with me that porters are important to our security and welfare, more importantly, it’s a facility that promised in the prospecters before we made up our minds to apply for a degree course in this so-call ‘collegiate university’, and how come we end up in a college without reception? There is no way that the university admin team can simply take it away without an agreement with us.
Please can both student newspapers in this university have a proper response to this matter?
Finally, let me say this very clearly, if we can’t change their mind, we shall consdier to change them.
Jack Chen
PhD student
Dept of Social Policy & Social Work
Rachel Moss
This whole situation leaves me sad and angry. I do not work on campus that often, but the situation has affected me, as our porters at King’s Manor were included in these changes. This was ridiculous, as King’s Manor operates in a very different way to campus, and because our porters had been with us for so long and knew a lot of the students and staff, which was great for security. Because of these changes, two of our long-serving porters - twenty years! - decided to retire, which was very sad. It is simply inappropriate to make such massive changes to working conditions. Our porters already work unsociable hours; asking them to work 12 hour shifts on top of that is ridiculous.
This is another example of the University’s ridiculous “cost-cutting” measures that may save cash, but at what cost? I am a realist, and have accepted that uni admin are not that interested in our welfare when money is at stake - but you would think they might be interested in what kind of public impression this gives, especially since 24 portering is a selling point of the university!
pat gilbert
i am both a student and a parent and am horrified that the welfare of students would come second to costs, its the reason york is so popular, its a safe place to be in comparison to other uni citys. safety was a selling point when i selected york because the porter system was impressive, i can only say i am discusted and will think carefully about my sons safety when selecting his uni place.