College replacing cafeteria workers with machines

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (AP) - The entire cafeteria staff at an upstate New York community college will be laid off and replaced with vending machines.

The Times Herald-Record (http://bit.ly/2oyE0zK ) reports that nine full-time and three part-time workers will lose their jobs in June at the Orange County Community College in Middletown. The college is part of State University of New York.

Jessica Melchick, a food staffer for the past four years, said workers cried when they heard about the layoffs Friday.

And students say they'll miss the staff members and the fresh food.

The Orange County Community College Association, a nonprofit that runs the cafeterias, says in an email to students that the change follows a deficit last year of more than $150,000 in food-service operations.