Ohio University announced its plans Tuesday to lay off 20 workers after it was unable to come to an agreement with the AFSCME Local 1699 union.
A memorandum of understanding between Human Resources, Culinary Services and union leadership regarding restructuring of dining hall employees was rejected during the summer of 2011 by a 60-31 vote from the union, according to a university news release.
This memorandum of understanding would have avoided layoffs, according to the news release.
An additional negotiation between Human Resources, Culinary Services and union leadership attempting to reduce the impact of layoffs during the Nelson Dining Hall renovations was also rejected Tuesday, according to the news release.
“We regret that an agreement that was acceptable to both parties could not be reached,” said Linda Lonsinger, chief human resource officer, in the news release.
The Nelson Dining Hall renovations during Spring Quarter and the summer will create a lack of work in Culinary Services, which OU says is the reason for the layoffs.
The affected employees will receive 30-day notices today, said John Dillon, president of AFSCME Local 1699.
“This is going to have an effect on a lot of people before it’s all said and done,” Dillon said. “To me, there should have been another way to resolve this.”
The university hopes to recall the laid off employees after the reopening of Nelson Dining Hall this fall, Lonsinger said in the news release.
