University employees worried about exposure as students return to campus

On Thursday, members of a union representing campus workers across the state asked for greater transparency, including a heads up where there is a COVID cluster in a building where they work.

Posted 10:25 p.m. Jan 14, 2021 — Updated 11:30 p.m. Jan 14, 2021

Amanda Lamb

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — With students at universities across the University of North Carolina System heading back to campus, university workers are once again raising concerns about their safety. On Thursday, members of a union representing campus workers across the state asked for greater transparency, including a heads up where there is a COVID-19 cluster in a building where they work.

New clusters – a group of five or more cases among people in close proximity – were identified this week at a UNC-Chapel Hill residence hall and within the North Carolina State University athletic program.

"I think that we're all concerned about limiting the spread of the pandemic that's going on and that we're all trying to be very careful," said N.C. State senior Gracyn Easton.

"I feel very safe with the way NCSU is handling it. They're making sure every student and faculty member is tested before coming back."

Laura Bray, a graduate student who teaches sociology, says it's not enough.

"We don't feel safe," she said. "The numbers are so high right now, it's not going to be enough to control an outbreak."

N.C. State officials said they believe they have a good plan to protect students and staff involving more sanitizing, testing, social distancing and PPE.

"The university is distributing masks to every employee on campus. They did that in the fall as well. That will continue," said Donna McGilliard, N.C. State executive director of university housing.

Bray granted that conditions on campus have improved from the fall with more cleaning, more PPE and more testing, but she says the changes are still not enough to protect campus workers, especially those who have no choice economically but to do their jobs in person, like the janitorial, maintenance and food services staff.

"This is a racial and economic justice issue," Bray said. "Our frontline workers are largely Black and brown workers. They are the lowest paid in the system, and they've had the least say in how this is going."

Since Jan. 1, 96 UNC-Chapel Hillstaffers have reported positive COVID-19 tests. The university employs 9,035 staff and 4,110 faculty.

On that campus, students are also be subject to mandatory coronavirus testing. They will live in single-occupancy rooms, and most classes will continue to meet online.

Bray said, "We should have a minimum number of students and workers on campus right now. Any class that could be done online should be done online."

In an online petition, more than 100 members of the union that represents university workers echoed that call. They say the No. 1 thing universities should do is encourage more virtual learning.

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