There has been a lot of talk, especially on Facebook, about the proposed privatization of UNC Student Stores. However, it feels like most people don't actually understand why this possibility is causing so much outrage across campus. As a current Student Stores employee, I have been able to get an inside look at how privatization would actually impact the store, its employees, and students. Before I explain how it would greatly harm employees and the store atmosphere, let me first give you the facts. Most of these come directly from other university bookstores that Follett has taken over in the past.
1. Currently the only corporation to submit a proposal has been Follett, a company that owns private bookstores across the country.
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2. Follett's proposal includes a promise to save the university millions of dollars on textbooks (an impossible feat, considering the fact that Students Stores only sells between $7-8 million annually.
3. Follett also claims to charge students less than the university on textbooks. However, when Follett took over the University of Florida bookstore, textbook prices went up by approximately 30 percent.
4. As Follett is a private corporation, current full-time employees would see no further growth in their state employee pensions.
5. Follett also claims that they will save the university millions of dollars with their more efficient processes. These "efficient" processes actually consist of laying off nearly 600 full-time booksellers, and turning a large majority of the remaining full-time employees into part-time staff. Follett bookstores have also been notoriously understaffed, as they are known to lay off many student employees and cut the hours of those remaining.
But what does this all really mean?
It means that Follett has been deceiving our university's administration with falsified facts and half-truths. It means that many student employees relying on their on-campus job to help pay for their education may be out of a job. It means that many employees (some whom have been working at Student Stores for over 30 years) will no longer be able to support their families. It means that the entire store's attitude will change as it is transformed from the welcoming university-proud store into a corporate chain. As a current employee, I can already see the atmosphere changing as more and more begin to fear for the security of their jobs. I don't want to see my beloved workplace get taken over. We are a family here at UNC Student Stores, and we should stay that way.
If you are looking to learn more about the controversy, here are a few links to check out:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/student-books-cost-ex...
http://www.mhpbooks.com/how-to-lay-off-600-booksel...
