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Protest Scheduled After Culinary Institute Plans Job Cuts

HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- A rally is being planned Friday to protest the Culinary Institute of America's plan to lay off 17 employees from its Hyde Park campus.

The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park

The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park

Photo Credit: Contributed

The Culinary Craft Association, which represents the works, said some have been employed for decades. The CCA said this is an effort by the CIA to slash workers' wages and benefits.

The rally is planned for 3:45 p.m. outside the main entrance on Route 9. 

“This rally is our opening salvo in our effort to fight back against the Institute’s flagrant union busting and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to save good union jobs in the Hudson Valley," Ray Minew, CCA president said. 

In 2015, the CCA joined the SEIU Local200 United after the CIA terminated 40 janitors and cleaners and forced them to reapply for jobs that slashed wages and benefits, the CCA said.

The layoffs would eliminate nearly half of the remaining union positions covered under CCA’s contract, the CCA said.

The school told The Poughkeepsie Journal they hope for an amicable solution and the cuts are being made to save costs and prevent a tuition increase. 

The school will subcontract groundskeeping, recycling and painting work to LCS Facility Group and the laid-off employees will receive a job offer from the subcontractor according to the Poughkeepsie Journal

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