Ohio University lays off 140 union employees; more cuts to come

Ohio University today (May 1) confirmed that it has issued lay-off notices to 140 employees, all members of the AFSCME Local 1699 union, as the university continues to grapple with a budget crisis that started even before the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Those employees – workers such as custodians, groundskeepers and maintenance staff – will have their positions eliminated as of May 31, OU spokesperson Carly Leatherwood said in a statement Friday. Leatherwood called this the “first significant personnel reduction” that OU has implemented so far since the pandemic began.

“The majority of the institution’s operational costs are in its employees, which requires the university to make extremely difficult decisions regarding our workforce, including today’s action,” she said. “Ohio University recognizes and regrets the difficult impact this will have on our valued employees, their families, and our community at large.”

OU President Duane Nellis in a letter issued on Tuesday said the university is facing serious financial struggles due to the coronavirus pandemic and enrollment declines in recent years.

Read more: https://www.athensnews.com/news/campus/ou-lays-off-140-union-employees-more-cuts-to-come/article_17de0ee8-8bf0-11ea-96d3-ef9297606342.html