Meeting reviews Aramark negotiations

UNITE HERE Local 7, the workers' union representing the food service employees at Hopkins, hosted a student-worker briefing last night on the current status of contract negotiations with their company, Aramark. The majority of significant terms have been settled; however, several key items remain, including affordable health care and the addition of short term disability. Union members sought to inform students and ask that they support University pressure on Aramark.

Krista Strothmann, Vice President of UNITE HERE Local 7, Gladys Burrell, Financial Secretary of UNITE HERE Local 7 and Robert Day, a Hopkins graduate student and volunteer for UNITE HERE Local 7, led the meeting. They updated the attendees on the union's latest contract concerns and ways to support their cause.

"Our goal was to be honest and really tell people what is going on," Strothmann said.

In addition to explaining the current status of negotiations, Strothmann, Burrell and Day spoke about things students could do to help the food service workers.

"[Tell each of the workers] you support them in their contract fight," Strothmann said.

She explained how workers are isolated from each other in separate buildings and may not always be aware of the student support.

"A lot of our members really reacted to that," she said.

Additionally, Strothmann, Burrell and Day advertised a joint student-worker delegation to the Aramark office. Monday, Oct. 3rd at 2 p.m., union members will meet at the tennis courts east of AMR II in order to confront Aramark officials at their office located behind AMR I.

Over the course of the summer, negotiations progressed quickly and the majority of significant items were addressed.

"I feel great. I feel we've made solid improvements to the contract that expired," Strothmann said.

In early August 2011, Aramark submitted their final offer to UNITE HERE. However, due to a number of outstanding issues the food service workers wished to address, the offer was rejected, 67 to 9. The list of outstanding items included more affordable health care and the inclusion of short term disability.

Strothmann said how food service workers at Hopkins pay approximately four times the health insurance premium as food service workers at nearby Morgan State University and Coppin State University.

"There are already enough people not getting health insurance because it's expensive," Strothmann said.

Burrell spoke on the need for short term disability. She cited the case of Aramark employee Montoya Jackson who was injured in a car accident and unable to work for four months. Jackson was forced to rely on her savings to pay for her daily needs.

"Nobody can live off no paycheck," Burrell said.

Day talked about the importance of informing the students of the situation between the food service workers and Aramark.

"Companies don't settle fair contracts because of the kindness of the their hearts but because of pressure from the community," Day said.

Overall, Strothmann, Burrell and Day were pleased with the event.

"I'm quite pleased," Day said of the turn out. "[Student support] puts the workers in a stronger bargaining position."

Roughly 40 people attended the event. Representatives from the Human Rights Working Group, the Black Student Union, and the College Democrats were present and expressed their support of the food service workers.

"We're here to help out," senior Dan Hochman, Vice President of the Hopkins College Democrats, said.

Students attending the event seemed very eager to assist the workers. Since the food service employees remain when a new company is hired, one student asked if they should pressure the University into stipulating that future food service companies adhere to certain guidelines when negotiating contracts with the employees, such as maintaining the level of benefits the workers have.

While in the midst of an internal union conflict, Hopkins food service workers' contract with Aramark expired. Due to the confusion, Aramark chose not to negotiate with UNITE HERE Local 7 for a new contract. After a joint student-worker delegation to University officials, Hopkins submitted an open letter to Aramark asking the issues be resolved quickly.

In a September 2010 election, the conflict was resolved as food service workers voted unanimously for UNITE HERE Local 7 to be their union representative.

UNITE HERE began negotiations with Aramark in November 2010; however, progress was slow. In April 2011, frustrated by Aramark's actions, union representatives organized a second rally. The University submitted another letter to Aramark asking for a timely and fair resolution.