Twenty-seven employees of the Children, Youth and Families Department who work in Springer were told Monday that they won't have jobs after November unless they transfer to Albuquerque.

The employees have been offered jobs at the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center.

"It took us by surprise. We haven't had time to let it really sink in," said Sam Blea, a youth-care specialist who was among those told that Nov. 30 is their last day.

Most of the employees are youth-care specialists, although the laid off include some support staff, Blea said.

Department spokeswoman Romaine Serna said 29 positions are affected, but two are vacant.

Employees were told the layoffs are happening because the Children, Youth and Families Department is closing its portion of what was once the Springer Boys' School, Blea said. The state Corrections Department now runs the rest of the Northern New Mexico facility. State officials in 2006 said they would turn the school into a minimum-security prison for adults, and since then they have moved out almost all of the juvenile residents.

Serna said the department recognizes the transfer to Albuquerque would be difficult for many employees.

"We're not denying it's difficult. There's no denying that," Serna said. "But we are aware of how important it is to be vigilant of the budget."

Blea, who serves as president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1375, said the facility's five remaining juveniles were moved Monday to sites in Albuquerque.

Employees were notified Monday morning at the facility during a meeting with CYFD officials, Blea said.

"They just said that there wasn't any funding to keep Area One (of the facility) open," said Blea, who has worked for CYFD since 1998.

Blea and other union leaders said they plan to file a grievance against the state because no one from the administration approached the union about the layoffs, which he said is required by the union contract.

Serna said the union was notified Monday, and she couldn't respond to Blea's concerns because she's not familiar with the language in the union contract.

Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, said Monday that he was upset the administration hadn't told him about the plan for layoffs.

"It would have been a matter of courtesy to let us know they contemplated doing it," he said.

Varela, chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, said he would look into the matter.

"We'll have to follow up on that and see what they are contemplating in terms of providing work to these people," he said.

Varela said he's concerned about finding work for the employees.

"I don't know where they are going to place them now with all the (hiring) freezes," he said.

Serna said CYFD is doing what it can to help employees find new positions, including in their own communities.

"We're committed to helping them as much as possible," she said.

Tony Barajas, president of Northern New Mexico State Employees local 2890, said the move has other state employees worried, given the state's budget crisis.

"State employees have got a big target on our backs," Barajas said. "It seems like the state of New Mexico is trying to balance the budget on the backs of state employees without trying to increase revenue whatsoever."

Revenues for this year are projected to fall $400 million short of covering current spending, and lawmakers plan to meet in a special session in October to cut the budget.

Some lawmakers have said all programs are on the table for cuts, but others have said state employee layoffs are a last resort for balancing the budget.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.