Photograph of Marsha Tinnen (left) and Barbara Prear (right) on steps of South Building, 1990s
Marsha Tinnen and Barbara Prear, UNC housekeepers, formed the UNC Housekeepers Association in the spring of 1991 to advocate for better pay, benefits and working conditions for UNC housekeepers. They mobilized the housekeepers through rallies and marches and spearheaded the lawsuit against the university. In the end, their efforts paid off when they reached a settlement that included higher wages and access to career training programs for the housekeepers.