University of Memphis administrators hope conditions will improve for Physical Plant workers after hiring Ronnie Brooks as the new head of the plant. Brooks left his job at Tennessee State University to come back to the U of M.
The U of M is looking to a former employee to resolve the complaints coming from maintenance workers and custodial staff on campus.
The newly hired head of the U of M’s Physical Plant department, Ronnie Brooks, worked for the university for 13 years before he left for another job.
Brooks, who will begin work May 2, will face a slew of problems within the department.
John Gluszek, a student and parttime worker at the Physical Plant, said he hopes the new director will take the workers’ concerns seriously.
“Everyone thinks [the new hire] will fix everything, but nothing will change if he doesn’t implement serious changes,†he said while watering flowers outside of the Ned McWherter Library. “With that being said, I was excited to hear about the new hire. I think it’s a good thing he worked at the university before.â€
University administrators are confident Brooks will improve working conditions and seem to be giving the Physical Plant a more important role in the university.
For example, when Brooks starts, he will be an assistant vice president — a much higher position than when he left.
U of M president M. David Rudd elevated the head of Physical Plant to highlight the importance of their employees and the roll of campus maintenance, he said.
“We’ll allow him time to make the transition, get to know our employees and work directly with those individuals raising concerns,†Rudd said. “I’m confident Ron is someone that will help us improve as a university and a community.â€
The new hire comes after a report conducted by the Keith McGee Group that said Physical Plant employees compared working conditions to slave labor, specifically calling the department the “Physical Plantation.â€
The report released in October included interviews with department employees. University administrators and employees hope the new hire will address concerns and alleviate some of the problems in the Physical Plant.
In an email sent to all students and faculty March 14, David Zettergren, vice president of U of M’s business and finance, said Brooks is not a stranger to the university.
Brooks served as associate director of the Physical Plant and director of engineering and crafts from 1995 to 2008. He has more than 20 years of facilities management experience.
He left his job as the associate vice president for facilities management at Tennessee State University to come to the U of M.
Anjetta Brown, administrative assistant at Tennessee State University, said the transition would affect her the most because she works directly under Brooks, and things will not be the same without him.
“He is over our facility plant and is basically in charge of anything on our campus that isn’t academic,†Brown said. “We are all sad he is leaving because he wears a lot of hats and is a great asset.â€
Brooks was unable to comment, but according to Laura Henson, administrative associate II at the University of Memphis, many current Physical Plant employees are familiar with him.
“Because he is a former employee of the U of M, some of the guys that work here have known him for a while, which is a good thing,†she said.
Concerning the October report, Zettergren said many improvements have already been made within the Physical Plant, but Brooks will only help to implement the process.
“We have filled vacant positions, reevaluated and changed staffing levels in those areas where more staff are needed, and adjusted employee schedules to align with the employees’ desires and the university’s needs to ensure work is completed appropriately,†he said. “I am certain Mr. Brooks will meet with the Physical Plant staff early on and analyze the changes already implemented to develop a strategy for improvement.â€
Zettergren said one of the problems still needing to be addressed in the Physical Plant are the aging buildings on campus and deferred maintenance, which creates intermittent problems.
“The uncertainty of the issues we must address and the stress it puts on our limited staff is also a challenge,†he said.
Filling vacancies within the Physical Plant was one of the problems highlighted in the October report.
Several employees reported being stretched too thin because there were not enough employees in their assigned areas.
The report also outlined many other concerns including the lack of training for employees, the lack of an employee safety program, few opportunities for employee advancement and an unfair system of addressing disputes with management.
Rudd said the concerns were taken into account when selecting a new member of the Physical Plant department team.
“An almost singular focus of the hiring process for the new associate VP was identifying someone capable and committed to making positive changes in our Physical Plant operations, consistent with the recommendations offered in the report,†Rudd said.
