The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, December 06, 1979, Page page 9, Image 9

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    thursday, december 6, 1979
daily nebraskan
page 9
Maintenance wo
By Wayde Urich
The working conditions at the UNL Maintenance
Department are a nightmare said James E. Young a
journeyman carpenter. at UNL. y
'There is no safety program in our department. Men
inhaling dangerous fumes and breathing toxic dust they
don't even realize is a threat,' Young said.
Young first made these accusations in a letter to the
Editor of the Lincoln Star. .
Young said that the personal files of employees have
been abused.
"Items have been removed from files by the adminis
tration and reports inserted in files without notification
of the employees involved " Young said .
Young added that the director of the Physical Plant,
before a group of 90 people included 25 carpenters, said
that he (the director) was as .good a carpenter as any of
them.
When asked about the statements maue by Young, Har
ley Schrader, Director of the Physical Plant, said the state,
ments are not due any comment..
... - ,
"The accusations have no validity and are not worth
the time to comment on," Schrader said ,
Young said that his supervisor, Ray Campbell, made a
personal accusation towards him,
"He abusively accused me, by name and with pointed
finger, of writing graffiti on restroom walls Young said, .
Campbell, the construction carpenter supervisor said he
had no comnient about the accusation,
"The matter is being Jiandled internally and until the
department releases a statement I have nothing to say," he
said. - -
Young also said there have been many accidents in the
past couple ot years.
'We've had a broken shoulder, injuries to hands, and
many other accidents," he said.
Young said he has asked his supervisor about the lack
of a safety program and empty first -aid kits,
Young said that when he questioned his supervisor
about these problems, he was told that "production isihe
priority here, not employee safety" and that "each
employee has to look out for his own safety ."
Young further said the apprenticeship program that has
been in existence for two years is badly run, ,
ID
rking
conditions nightmare-carpenter
ri- fact apPrentces are taught nothing about their
trades, are assigned to journeymen on a day4oJay
oasis with no job continuity and are often used as a cheap
labor crew "he said,
Jerry Delhay manager at the Maintenance Department
Young " COmment about statements made by
d Jhuf,f " Chi?nnfis Mr Youn8 can 8 through to ex.
press his claims in the personnel department," he said.
Young said that for the past two years every man in
the department was required to work 15 minute over,
time everyday. He also said the evaluation system is
abused,
"It's been predetermined by the head of the Physical
Plant that employees grades will average a two on a scale
Budget . . .
Continued from Page 1
Senator John Parsons asked where , the funds would go
if the 15 percent increase is approved. Young said II per.
cent would go for faculty increases, Of that U percent,
I0 percent would be allocated for salaries and I percent
for fringe benefits, Another I percent would be for
operational supplies and utilities each, he said, with the
remainder to be spent on program improvement,
The UNL campus-is falling behind the other campuses
of the university system and the UNL instructors
specifically are falling behind, Senator Brad Belt said,
Young said, "We (UNL) have just about had our
share," '
Programs that are not on a list to be cut if the increase
is not approved include the Colleges of Arts and Sciences,
Agriculture and Engineering, Young said, adding that is
not saying that any colleges'not mentioned are automata
callyon the list of cuts, ; -
Young said there were many factors, among them poor
faculty salaries, influencing UNL teachers, to unionize, He
blamed an inadequate budget for th,e problems with the
computer system,
Wright said all computer use was cut, including admin
istrative use, and many people didn't understand that the
system still has to be paid for,
"This is a wealthy state," Young said, Faculty salaries -have
dropped but per capita income is up, he said,
'The dollars are there," Young said, but added that the
tax rate is relatively low,
of one to four. IVe been advised bv mv superior that a
four is 'for someone who's perfect, so no fours," Young
said, This defeats the entire purpose ot an evaluation
system," . . ' ,
Young said he believes he has much support within the
department,
'There are other people in maintanence who have the
same feelings as I do, but I guess they're not as out
spoken as I am," he said,
t Young also said the apprenticeship program is discrim
inatory toward women and minorities.
Young said he was fired a month ago for insubor
dination, "I was reinstated after I went to talk with the
personnel department," he said, "1 think l was fired
because I encouraged the men to speak on their own
behalf "
Agriculture college
plans parents' day
, More than 20Q parents and students Saturday will get
an in-depth look at the College of Agriculture and some of
its programs,
The UNL Agronomy Club is holding its eighth annual
parents day and will sponsor tours of East Campus and
various research projects as well as holding a banquet for
participants, according to Gary Tuxhorn, publicity officer
for the club,
Invitations were sent to agronomy, soil science ,'agricul
tural honors and general agricultural students and their
parents. Faculty members also are encouraged to attend,
Tuxhorn said, - "
Tuxhorn said the day is a service to the university and
gives parents an opportunity to see what is going on,
"This is kind of a chance for parents to get acquainted
with faculty members and the university, They would not
have an opportunity to see this much otherwise, It is also
a' good opportunity for students to see projects and re
search not related to their major," Tuxhorn said,
annc
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Barbra
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