The printing press has become a machine of the past at City College.
The Print Shop on East Campus, which has run continuously for at least 35 years, closed its doors Oct. 15 because of a lack of demand for its services. Copy machines, both on and off campus, over the years have been rendered obsolete the longer process of printing on a press.
The shop conducted projects such as printing business cards and brochures for the college. According to Vice President of Business Services, Joe Sullivan, cutting the Print shop will save the college up to $70,000 a year.
Along with the shut down of the Print Shop, former full-time employee Jack Johnston was let go. Johnston was the Print Shop production office supervisor and served as a City College staff member for over 35 years.
“Anytime there are people involved it is a difficult decision,” said Sullivan. “We couldn’t continue to spend money and not have a work product.”
Liz Auchincloss, Local California School Employees Association Chapter president, said this is the first full-time employee layoff she has seen since she started at City College 15 years ago. According to Auchincloss, Johnston did not want any union representation.
The City College Duplicating Center, located in the Administration building, is now responsible for some of the workload left behind by the Print Shop. Chris Miller, offset duplicating machine operator, said the workload has only increased slightly. Still, duplicating only uses copiers instead of presses, and is currently unable to complete more complicated projects with color such as business cards.
Auchincloss said the effects of the lay off are still being negotiated, and the work has yet to be fully distributed.
The state budget cuts continue to be felt around the campus. “I hope this is the exception, and not the rule,” said Sue Ehrlich, vice president of Human Resources and Legal Affairs. The Print Shop was a resource used by many faculty members in the past; it and Johnston will be missed, she said.