MU Campus Dining workers complain about cut in summer hours, but university says they were offered other jobs

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Campus Dining workers at the University of Missouri are airing grievances about having hours cut during the summer.

The claims caught MU officials off guard. They say the employees were offered jobs in other university departments and that fewer hours for dining workers in the summer is part of the university's yearly cycle.

In a news release announcing a news conference, the LiUNA Local 955 union used quotes from union members saying they are losing pay and benefits such as insurance and wondering how they will pay the bills.

MU spokesman Christian Basi said the cut in hours is because the university is not hosting overnight camps, in turn causing a decrease in the need for employees. He said work at Campus Dining Services is not guaranteed during downtimes or in the summer, which is laid out in the employee handbook.

The department anticipated the decrease in demand for dining workers this summer and began reaching out to other departments across campus to inquire if jobs were available, Basi said. He said the university was able to find several jobs open jobs that were offered to all full-time campus dining employees.

Those jobs included maintenance, custodial, retail and other positions across campus.

Basi said several workers took advantage and accepted positions, while others did not. He said the alternative jobs offered to campus dining employees would have paid at minimum what they were already making.

Check back for updates to this developing story.