He then asks his uncle for a new car. In the same way, Yale is asking alumni for millions of dollars for renovations, but continues to let its daily maintenance efforts fall short. This failure can only mean that the renovations backlog will grow. Service and maintenance workers who have worked at Yale for many years say they see no difference in the University's daily maintenance policies from past years. They describe an understaffed physical plant department that cannot keep up with demands for both emergency repair and preventative maintenance.
Daily maintenance is key to avoiding future renovations problems like the ones extant today.
Since 1977, the University has cleaned less and less and given workers more and more work to do. Yale has cut cleaning crews and reduced cleaning schedules drastically. The result is a University that is dirty and a custodial workforce that receives undue blame for stingy budgeting. During contract negotiations this winter, Yale's unions say their first priority is to force Yale to provide adequate services. Chief Union Negotiator Michael Boyle '79 says Yale operates its facilities in the manner of a company verging on financial collapse.