[media-credit name=’KATE BRENNER/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]

It was pouring rain, but that didn’t stop University of Wisconsin custodians from showing up to picket Tuesday afternoon.

The wet but enthusiastic workers gathered to protest changes made by management, particularly a schedule change that mandates second shift custodians in university buildings work from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., rather than the 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. shift they have worked for nearly 30 years.

President of the Custodial Union Randy Brink explained why the group finds the second shift schedule change unacceptable.

“For most people, it seems like a small shift, but if you have to get up in the morning and take your kids to school, and if you’re working a second job, it’s a big deal,” Brink said. “You can imagine how much sleep that leaves you.”

The effects of the schedule change are widespread, but many of those affected were not allowed to take part in the decision, said Al Schueller, executive board officer for the Custodial Union.

“It’s disrupting approximately 200 custodians’ lives,” Schueller said. “Management … we feel [made] an arbitrary decision in implementing this schedule change.”

Besides “arbitrarily imposing” the schedule adjustments, Brink said he was disappointed with the lackluster response the union has received from the university since workers complaints began.

“We just want a little bit of respect for our custodians and their families and what they have to deal with working the hours that they work,” Brink said.

Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning and Management Alan Fish defended the schedule change.

“We felt that it could really improve our productivity,” Fish said. “There’s more access to offices and classrooms after 6. It’s also a little easier for [the workers] to get in and park.”

Fish added that the situation is still developing, and that UW plans to meet with the custodial union again to take discussions “up to a higher level.”

“We’re giving it our best shot to try and hear their concerns, so they can hear our plans and concerns and see if we can find some middle ground that makes sense for all of us,” Fish said.

Brink called on Chancellor Biddy Martin to take action to help the most “diverse” unit on campus, 31 percent of whom are women and 60 percent of whom are people of color.