University of Minnesota Team Cleaning dispute.

The Minnesota Daily informs us that the University of Minnesota and the Teamsters Union, representing the University's janitors, disagree on the University's attempt to implement "Team Cleaning" procedures in cleaning campus buildings.  “The custodians’ contract states that each worker can bid on a specific area to clean, based upon seniority. Curtis Swenson, a business agent for the union, said the new team cleaning practice, which has multiple custodians cleaning the same area, violates that clause of the contract”.  Wonder if the senior janitors know where the easiest buildings lie.

"Team Cleaning" allows a multi-man crew in a large building to specialize, each crew member doing a particular task.  It generally replaces "zone cleaning", such as the University's janitorial staff uses, in which an individual cleaner does all tasks in a given area.   Here's how we summarize "Team Cleaning" in our firm's Procedures Manual:

 “Team Cleaning” can be used to divide tasks among several workers, or to set up a routine for one person who cleans the entire building.  Generally, the system involves moving in a circular path and the following steps:

1) “Light Duty” includes: emptying trash, ashtrays, dusting, spot cleaning, carpet spotting and door and interior glass spotting all in one operation (includes restroom & lunchroom trash).

2) Vacuuming floors (both carpet and tile), vents, webs, etc. with backpack vacuum. Do this after your “Light Duty” cleaning and check previous work as you go.

3) Rest rooms & lunchrooms (can easily be combined with light duty cleaning when in a small building).

4) Damp and wet mopping."

"Team Cleaning" promotes both efficiency (worker productivity) and quality, by training and equipping each worker in a specialized task.  Productivity allows for better pay, and a wealthier society.  Those societies that do not increase productivity stagnate; those industries and firms that do not increase productivity loose jobs to out-sourcing, or mechanization.  Centuries ago, the Luddites in England tried to "protect jobs" by smashing mechanical looms.  These days, you'll notice that folks who try to produce commercial cloth by hand weaving tend to starve.  Didn't work in England; won't work in Minnesota.

Comments

[Marla Hughes]

Then you have the expenses of extra vacuum(s), supplies and, as you said, time. Very inefficient way to do things.
As you know I specialize in vacant property clean up and I've found it's much more efficient to use team cleaning. The time saved by not having to switch cleaners and/or jobs more than makes up for the extra travel time between rooms. Also, it makes the harder rooms to clean less of a chore for the team member responsible for the tougher tasks. I use a 'floater' who does all of the high dusting/cleaning, all the windows and mirrors and then vacuums our way out of the unit. The tasks of oven, fridge, shower stalls and toilets are the responsibility of the other two team members. If the floater gets done faster than anticipated, they clean the kitchen cabinets as well or they may go help with a particularly bad shower stall before starting their vacuuming duties.
Switching off floater duties makes everyone happy, especially on a day when it seems everyone has sliding glass doors with doggie 'residue' on them. :-)
So, yes, I fully understand why Team Cleaning makes sense for janitorial efficiency.