A rally was held on the campus of University of Maryland Eastern Shore this morning to protest a proposal to outsource up to 80 employees in the school’s food service operations.
Joe Hartman, president of local 1813 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union said that the group had collected the names of students and staff at the school opposing the decision.
He adds that that outsourcing would go beyond just the regular employees.
“Student workers who are employed through dietary services, their jobs are on the line also. So this is going to affect more than just 80, probably closer to a hundred.”
University spokesman William Robinson says that a contract would require the current employees to be able to apply for the new jobs.
But, Hartman says there is no guarantee that those workers would be kept.
A recent audit found that there were procedure problems and inadequate internal control over the UMES dietary inventory for its dining service.
Hartman has worked for the university over the last 23 years and is currently in the Ag Department. He says there is some concern among other employees about how far this kind of outsourcing may go.
“Will the contracting out stop with dietary services or will it go to grounds keepers? Housekeepers, the physical plant…I think there is a legitimate concern over how far reaching this contracting out could go.”
A final decision on the cost saving measure is expected to be made before the next fiscal year starting in July. The University is currently receiving proposals.
UMES is one of three universities in the 12 institution Maryland system with in-house food service operations.
