URBANA – Layoffs have struck again in the Facilities and Services department at the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus.
The belt tightening at the university, which is owed more than $400 million by the state, means that nine workers lost their jobs last week.
“Thirteen people received layoff notices in November 2009, but they were extended in December and January, because we had enough work for them,” Urbana campus spokeswoman Robin Kaler said. “Last Friday, we had to let nine of them go.”
The group includes four carpenters, two mill workers and three laborers.
One carpenter had “retreat” rights and will become a laborer electrician.
The layoffs were because the workers’ salaries are paid on a “charge back” basis, meaning their salaries are paid by units to Facilities and Services.
Kaler said it was possible the division could lose more workers.
“These decisions are made on a month-to-month basis, but we are continuing to see a drop in the work that supports many charge-back positions,” she said.
In July, eight Facilities and Services staffers were notified of layoffs that took effect Aug. 31.
One employee was cut from each of eight shops: repair, sheet metal, carpenter, transportation, machine shop, pipe fitter, construction and operations engineering.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services