POUGHKEEPSIE – Marist College in the Town of Poughkeepsie is laying off some 28 employees, reportedly using the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.
Several emails and calls for comment to the college were not returned.
The Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 1120 is set to lose 10 positions, said Business Agent Carl Beltsche. The union represents 114 college employees, mostly administrative assistants.
Another 18 security guards are facing layoff.
The CWA workers will be terminated as of September 1. A union memo to members said under the contract with the college, they are allowed to layoff or eliminate jobs as long as they provide 60 days’ notice to the union, which they did on July 1.
The contact with the college includes bumping rights, so members with seniority can bump members with lesser seniority. “Unfortunately, the least senior members will be the ones who will be let go,” the union memo said.
