UC Denver employees have to keep working during DNC

DENVER – Thousands of workers on the Auraria campus in downtown Denver are finding out how life will change for them during the Democratic National Convention this August.

Auraria is home to three schools: the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College and the University of Colorado Denver.

It is across the street from the Pepsi Center, where the DNC is taking place.

During the week of the DNC, Aug. 25 to 28, classes for each school will be completely shut down. To accommodate, classes are starting a week earlier than normal and then picking back up after the convention.

That means all the teachers and students won't be on campus. But the schools also have thousands of clerical workers, including receptionists, custodians and others, who will be displaced.

Many want to know what they are supposed to do, and it all depends on which school they work for.

For Metro State employees and workers with CCD, almost every staff member will be put on paid administrative leave. However, they will remain on call to return to campus if there's a need. Only essential staff will remain on site.

"It's important to recognize that these are work days and so normally those employees are expected to be at work," said Metro State President Stephen Jordan.

That's exactly what's expected for those who work for UCD.

"We've got some important work to do here and there's never enough hours in the day to get it all done," said Steve Krizman, UCD assistant vice chancellor of university communications.

UCD staffers have the option to work on another site, take a vacation or work from home.

"I have one employee who was told she has to sign up and get Comcast and she doesn't even have a computer in her home," said Sue Sethany, a Math Department administrative assistant and a member of the UCD Staff Council as they discussed concerns over their plan on Tuesday.

"I will speak for the staff, I don't think it's fair," said Mary Ulibarri, a UCD library worker and another member of the council.

Some workers think it's unfair that they are expected to produce in other buildings or prove that work is being done at home.

"I think that there's going to be expectations that work be completed," said Krizman.

UCD says it will continue to work with each department to find solutions as the DNC approaches.

"It really continues to be difficult - there's still a lot of unanswered questions," said Krizman.

UCD leaders are looking at creating workspaces in two buildings the school has across Speer Boulevard which will stay open during the convention. Officials did not have an estimate as to how much it will cost to relocate workers for a week.