RPS plans reduction in workforce

Residential Programs and Services announced Thursday it will have to cut seven residence hall custodians and restructure some supervisory positions in the dorms.\nThe announcement concerned many custodians who work in residence halls.\n"My husband just had bone cancer, and he had to terminate his job," said Sharon Robertson, a custodian who has been working in McNutt Quad for a year and a half and for the University since 1996. "If I lose my job, I don't know what will happen."\nMany other custodians are asking the same questions. Many are in similar situations.\nDarrin Dant, another custodian at McNutt, said he had heard that anywhere from seven to 30 people would lose their jobs. \nBut Patrick Connor, director of halls of residence, said a maximum of seven people would be without a position Feb. 2.\n"Right now, there are 160 people in appointed, full-time positions," he said. "In a new configuration there will be 153. So there are seven people potentially. And I say potentially, because if in the meantime others decide to retire or move positions, it could be less."\nRPS will also eliminate all 26 custodial crew leader positions. It will then open 11 building supervisor positions for some of the leaders to fill. The remaining 15 employees will be forced to accept a lower classification at a lower pay scale.\nRPS has been trying to live within budgetary constraints -- without a deficit -- for several years. Two years ago the department froze hiring, hoping to fix its financial problem. But about 15 months ago, RPS realized attrition had not done the job, so the department began searching for a new way to save money.\n"We've looked at all the options," Connor said. "In the area of Environmental Operations, we felt we could do what we are doing with less staff. We could keep the same level of staff but we would have to ask for additional money from students to maintain it. Our goal is to keep the yearly cost to students at a minimum."\nCustodians are also concerned about the future of those who will remain on staff. \nDant said the McNutt Quad staff has been shorthanded for several years and new cuts will make it worse. He said he plans to file for a pay increase because he will be forced to do more work than before.\n"I am doing two and three people's work," he said. "We are already shorthanded, and we are going to lose even more people."\nAll employees who will be changing or losing their jobs will have the option of adding their names to a reduction in force list. Employees on this list continue to receive benefits for a fee and will be the first ones considered if a new position opens. \nAnother 20 part-time positions will be available for interested employees. But many said they will not accept the offer, because it does not pay enough. Connie Henderson, a custodian at McNutt, said she received notice she might lose her job. She said she needs her current salary to pay for her son's future. \n"I have been here since '89 and I have a son who is a junior in high school right now, and he will be a senior next year. But since I am going to be losing my job, I won't get the tuition cut for working here," she said.\nMost employees being considered for the layoffs were hired in 1999. But despite working at IU for 11 years, Henderson will not receive seniority because she transferred departments a year and a half ago. If an employee transfers departments, his or her seniority status starts over. \nConnor insists RPS targeted a decision that would have the least effect on the staff. He said he is optimistic the layoffs will solve the budgetary problems.\n"That is why we have reached this decision," he said. "This will bring us in line financially. This is what we feel is as low as we can go. We don't believe we can make more cuts than this or else we would damage our service to the students"