Kean U. to lay off 54 union workers, outsource cleaning services

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NJ.com

By Kelly Heyboer

UNION— Kean University will lay off 54 full-time employees and hire an outside vendor to clean and maintain its campus, school officials said today.

The university's board of trustees approved a plan Monday night to outsource housekeeping and grounds maintenance services on its Union campus. The move is expected to save the public university $3.45 million annually and save additional money on supplies and equipment.

"The plan is part of the university's continuing efforts to remain New Jersey's most affordable, comprehensive university," Kean officials said in a statement. "It also culminates a five-year process that includes the already successful outsourcing of housekeeping and grounds services on two of Kean's campuses, multi-year evaluations, continued assessment, and process improvement planning."

Union officials representing the affected employees did not immediately return messages to comment on the layoffs.

FULL story at link.



Students walk across the Union campus of Kean University in this file photo. (Ed Murray | The Star-Ledger) (Murray, Ed)

Read more: http://www.nj.com/education/2015/03/kean_u_to_lay_off_54_union_workers_outsource_clean.html

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"To save the public university $3.45 million annually and save additional money on supplies and equipment".

How many times has it turned out that outsourcing cost more in the long run?

[freebrew]

1. Someone on the board must have interest in a cleaning business..NT

[guillaumeb]

2. another plan to save money here:

put a help wanted ad in Vietnamese and Indian newspapers. I am certain that many people with degrees in public administration and education from those countries would be wiling to work as administrators and Board members for a fraction of what the current people are getting.

[One_Life_To_Give]

3. $64k per head savings?

By my back of the envelope that is like replacing $35/hr plus benefits workers with $10/hr no benefit workers. I suppose if you and your siblings families all live together in one house, why you can make ends meet.

[Leith]

4. They Should Change the Name of the Campus Pictured

to "Outsourced Campus."

[bobja]

5. Bad move, my ol' alma mater

[Hoppy]

6. Me 2