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Students walk across the Union campus of Kean University in this file photo. (Ed Murray | The Star-Ledger)

(Murray, Ed)

UNION — Kean University will lay off 54 full-time employees and hire an outside vendor to clean and maintain its campus, school officials said today.

The university's board of trustees approved a plan Monday night to outsource housekeeping and grounds maintenance services on its Union campus. The move is expected to save the public university $3.45 million annually and save additional money on supplies and equipment.

"The plan is part of the university's continuing efforts to remain New Jersey's most affordable, comprehensive university," Kean officials said in a statement. "It also culminates a five-year process that includes the already successful outsourcing of housekeeping and grounds services on two of Kean's campuses, multi-year evaluations, continued assessment, and process improvement planning."

Union officials representing the affected employees did not immediately return messages to comment on the layoffs.

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The union, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 195, held a rally Monday to urge the Kean board to reject the plan.

"Adoption of this shortsighted proposal would not only devastate the workers, who would lose their jobs, but would also fill vacant positions with part-time, minimum wage workers who have no ties to the campus, but will have access to campus buildings, including dormitories," union officials said in a message to workers last month.

The 54 affected employees will be given 45 days notice that their positions will be eliminated. The new Ohio-based vendor, GCA Services Group, will be required to interview all of the former Kean employees employees for open positions before taking over the housekeeping and maintenance work.

"Kean also will provide every displaced worker with up to $2,000 toward retraining programs to acquire new skills," the university's statement said.

If Kean workers are hired by the new vendor, it is likely they will take a pay cut. Kean housekeeping workers are currently paid between $25 and $67 an hour, with the average worker earning $29 an hour, university officials said. The new vendor is required to pay housekeepers at least $22 an hour plus benefits.

Kean's grounds and maintenance staff is paid between $28 and $45 an hour, with the average worker earning nearly $31 an hour, university officials said. The new vendor will pay at least $23 an hour plus benefits.

Kean already uses an outside company for housekeeping and grounds maintenance on its East Campus and at its new science and technology building in Union, campus officials said.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find NJ.com on Facebook.