Union says layoffs will hurt school cleanliness

The union representing custodians in Chicago Public Schools said Monday that it will be difficult to keep schools clean once a private company takes over the work.

Chicago Public School officials said Saturday that 468 janitors will be laid off by the end of the month, a move that comes after the district agreed to a $260 million deal earlier this year to contract the work to the firm Aramark, according to a story in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times.

Notice of their job status is expected by Sept. 30, said Leslie Norgren, a spokeswoman for the nation's third-largest district.

Principals and school administrators recently have complained about the cleanliness at schools.

But scheduling and other changes are causing the current problems, which will "only be exacerbated" when the janitors are laid off on Oct. 1, said Julie P. Valentine, spokeswoman for the Service Employees International Union Local 1.