A restructuring proposal put to the 136 staff at Knox and Salmond College may mean food and cleaning services being outsourced and other jobs affected as the colleges seek to cut costs in order to afford earthquake strengthening work.
The plan comes as the commission appointed by the Presbyterian Church to run the two colleges is seeking to raise about $10.8 million for earthquake strengthening work at Knox and adding to the number of beds at Knox and Salmond. The need for the earthquake-strengthening work comes after Knox's main building was found to be less than 20% of new building standard (NBS) for earthquake strength.
The chairman of the commission, Dr John Kernohan, said it was "premature" to say how many of the 136 staff at the colleges would be affected.
"Some savings are being considered through outsourcing food and cleaning services as well as restructuring administrative roles.
"In the event outsourcing proceeded, it is our understanding most if not all of our employees affected ... would transfer to the selected contractor."
Restructuring, as well as extending the number of rooms, was needed for the commission to be able to afford earthquake-strengthening work, he said.
"We just know that we need to be able to afford the borrowings that we are anticipating."
He did not believe the proposed staff changes would affect the experience of students who chose to live at Knox and Salmond.
Most of the people working at the colleges were part-time.
