UConn Union Asking For Building Fixes

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UConn Union Asking For Building Fixes

Administrators Asking Union For List Of Problems

October 21, 2008

WFSB - Hartford,CT*

http://www.wfsb.com/education/17773535/detail.html

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- For faculty members working at University of

Connecticut's West Hartford campus, respiratory problems have been

common.

" There are so many people on the faculty and on staff who have

gotten sick with respiratory difficulty, " said UConn associate

professor Diane Drachman.

Now the union that represents many of these workers is looking for

answers.

" Certainly, the building has been a great concern for many of our

members for a long time, with mold and the respiratory illnesses

that go along with it, " said UCPEA representative Kathleen Sanner.

One of the biggest issues is identifying and fixing leaks, which can

lead to mold. The union is joining a recent call from students for

the leaks to be fixed.

Students rallied recently to discuss their demands for work to be

done to various building on campus they said are health hazards.

The executive director of UConn's West Hartford campus has asked

union members to put together a list of problems, a move the union

called encouraging.

" Check the buildings, check their offices, " said Dr. ,

the director of the UConn West Hartford campus. " If they see tiles

that are broken or rain spots or water spots, I would like to get a

list of all of those type of things so that I can pass it on to our

facilities people and then follow up to see that the repairs take

place. "

The union has also handed out a survey asking its members about any

health problems related to the building.