July 10, 2001
One month ago, 86 workers at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh faced a grim and uncertain future. Sodexho, the world's largest food service contractor, had won the food service contract at Oshkosh and then told workers they would no longer recognize the workers' seniority or their union contract and would not re-hire all the workers.
The UW-Oshkosh workers campaigned day and night in their small community. They leafletted on campuses, at University functions and community events. They got a front page story in the Northwestern, the local paper. They worked tirelessly to ask university and community members to call the Chancellor of the University with a message that the University had to tell Sodexho to recognize seniority, recognize the union and re-hire the workers.
Hundreds of people around the country sent messages to the Chancellor. Then Sodexho's position changed. They will recognize the workers' senority, they have recognized the union and they hired 72 of 86 workers.
So, the union members have won the right to keep their union and the many years of service to the university community will be recognized by the new contractor. However, the workers are looking towards very difficult negotiations and ten workers, with anywhere from 1 to 20 years of seniority have not been hired back. Sodexho's bargaining proposals include roll-backs in almost every area of the contract and the toughest fight may be trying to achieve some justice for workers who have not been hired back.
A big thank you to everyone who wrote emails and letters to the Chancellor - your messages really did move a mountain! Please stay tuned. We'll keep you informed on the progress of negotiations. It is clear that Sodexho will revert to its old ways if they think for even a minute that people aren't paying attention.
Andrea Calver
Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees International Union