UNC housekeepers honored for work

This week, students and administrators joined together to celebrate the University’s housekeepers.

UNC’s Housekeeping Services has undergone a year of changes at the administrative level. Darius Dixon, who previously served as deputy assistant director of housekeeping at N.C. State University, became UNC’s director of housekeeping in spring 2012.

Last year, former Housekeeping Services Director Bill Burston quit amid allegations that housekeeping administration had mistreated its employees.

Anna Wu, vice chancellor for facilities development, said she thought the department’s leadership improved this year.

“Darius’ leadership has been tremendous, and he is putting a good team in place,” she said.

Dixon declined to be interviewed.

Wu said an important improvement was the clarification of housekeeping policies.

“There has been a tremendous investment in training for management and training for employees,” she said. “There’s also been a clear policy for how we hire people.”

She said the new leaders have improved English as a Second Language training and the equipment available to housekeepers.

“I would say that morale is better.”

Housekeeper George James said some things in the department have improved in the past year, but he is still dissatisfied with the department’s overall structure.

“I still think that race matters deeply,” he said. “It is in many ways kind of denied.”

James said UNC ignores what he sees as its institutional racism.

“White supremacy is an extremely dysfunctional foundation of the housekeeping department,” he said.

In 2012, only 15 out of 401 University housekeepers were white. James said the majority of department administrators are white.

He said it’s difficult to see small improvements in a positive light when there are such large-scale racial divisions in the department. But he said he always feels like his voice is heard.

“If I had concerns about something in the department, I would certainly have Mr. Dixon’s ear,” he said.

Housekeeper Cynthia Fuller said she enjoyed the appreciation week events and that recommendations made last year were carried out effectively. She said the advisory committee did a good job.

Student Congress also passed a resolution last week to honor UNC housekeepers.

“Ultimately, I think that remembering to thank them continuously, throughout the year, not on one individual week or day meant for them, is what means most,” said Connor Brady, speaker of Student Congress. “And I hope our campus community does just that.”

university@dailytarheel.com