College custodians fall victim to outsourcing

BATTLE CREEK, MI — Remaining Kellogg Community College custodial positions will be outsourced to Omni Facility Services as outsourcing efforts will be complete July1, according to the Battle Creek Enquirer.

It was agreed between custodians and the college that if the number of college-based custodians fell below six, the college would privatize the balance of the custodial positions through an outsourcing contract, the story stated.

Kevin Moody, chairman of Kellogg Community College's Local 331.06 maintenance union, said: "As a union we're not in favor of this decision, but we've worked together with the college to make it the least damaging as possible."

According to the story, since 2005, custodians have been working under a collective bargaining agreement that calls for contracting out positions piecemeal to Omni Facility Services when custodians leave or retire.

Kellogg Community College hopes to save $200,000 in the next year by outsourcing out the remaining positions, the story noted.

The college has offered severance packages to the remaining four custodians, and one of them has accepted an administrative-level position with the college, the story added.