URBANA - Five telephone operators in the University of Illinois Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services department will lose their jobs in July unless the campus finds them new jobs in other departments.

Four of the operators are members of AFSCME local 685; the fifth is a supervisor.

UI spokeswoman Robin Kaler said the layoffs are directly related to the UI’s ongoing budget shortfall, in which the state is months behind on reimbursements.

Technology is also changing, she said.

“They’re ending the telephone switchboard, and they cite the financial situation and industry trends for the change. They’ll switch to an automated attendant in July of this year,” she said in an email.

Jim McGuire of AFSCME Local 698 said operators make about $14 an hour.

“Unfortunately, these are some of the lowest-paid people on campus. The impact of money saved is not that great,” he said, noting that the state owes the UI about $500 million. Obviously the university is in a bad position because the state hasn’t sent the budgeted money.”

McGuire said “the university does a good job of finding work in other places,” so he’s hopeful some of the workers will find new jobs at the UI.

The union is talking with the university, he said, and one of the issues is whether automating the switchboard jobs will actually save the campus money.

 “If we’re talking $500,000, it will probably take five years before the university sees any savings,” McGuire said.

 Layoffs have also taken place recently in the Facilities and Services department. Kaler said the UI has no plans to cut professors at this point.