Housekeepers ?le grievance against leaders

Several housekeepers gathered during their mid-shift break at 3 a.m. Wednesday to act on what they say is a pattern of abuse from their bosses.

At an hour when much of the University was asleep, the group — made up of some of the University’s lowest-paid employees — signed a grievance alleging a hostile work environment.

The grievance, which was filed by 17 housekeepers who work for zone manager Juanita Williams and crew leader Annette Reaves, states the two supervisors verbally harassed and intimidated their workers repeatedly.

Neither Williams nor Reaves responded to multiple calls and emails this week.

Housekeeper Thaung Htaik said Reaves and Williams make him feel like a criminal or prisoner because they look for problems with the housekeepers’ work.

“We have stress and tension at our work,” he said.

Director of Housekeeping Services Darius Dixon to comment on the grievance Tuesday, but he said the department addresses issues as they come up.

A group of students delivered the grievance to the Office of Human Resources Wednesday morning, said Laurel Ashton, a recent UNC graduate who advocates for the housekeepers.

The housekeeping department has been under scrutiny since then-director Bill Burston resigned in September 2011. That same month, a consulting firm UNC more than 45 suggestions for improving the department.

But some housekeepers think this grievance demonstrates the persistence of a poor work environment.

Housekeeper Htoo Simon said Reaves watches the housekeepers through window blinds as they work, looking for anything to report back to Williams.

“We’re always working,” he said. “We hurry, hurry, but sometimes she comes in yelling and screaming.”

He said he feels Reaves and Williams do not respect him or the other housekeepers.

“It’s not right,” he said. “We are not criminal prisoners. We are housekeepers.”

Simon said the housekeepers want Reaves demoted and Williams fired.

Kathy Bryant, senior director of human resources communications, said she could not comment on personnel issues.

“We’ll follow the process we follow for every grievance that is filed,” she said.

Although Ashton said five workers have left the zone because of the alleged abuse, she said she doesn’t expect any more to leave soon.

“Right now, folks are so united around it,” she said.

“I think that people are feeling really hopeful that change is going to come.”

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.