LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) – In order to put more resources into theological education, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has dismissed all of its maintenance workers and hired an international facilities-management company to take over their duties.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Seminary spokesman Lawrence Smith said the move would probably save the school money, but that was not the reason for the change. “We want to put as many resources as possible into theological education,” he was reported as saying. “Our job is not facilities management.”
The seminary told the 94 employees, which include 26 part-time workers, their jobs would end March 31, but that they could apply to work for the new company. Sodexho, based in Gaithersburg, Md., manages facilities and food services throughout North America, which include more than 900 institutions of higher education. It has more than 120,000 employees.
The dismissed workers are responsible for such work as cleaning, groundskeeping, painting, plumbing, carpentry and the maintenance of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Some have been at the seminary as long as 20 years.
Employees were upset by the news, according to reports. There are couples losing their jobs, as well as others who provide the sole support for their families. Four of the employees are international students, whose employment options are limited because they are here on student visas. Smith said the seminary and Sodexho are investigating legal questions about their employment.