Dear UW-Oshkosh community,
This will be the last in a series of e-mails that I have sent you to update you on the labor troubles in food service this summer. To everyone who wrote letters and got involved - a great big thank you.
Good luck in the upcoming school year,
Andrea Calver, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Int'l Union
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August 27, 2001
Food Service Workers Win Their Jobs and Union Contract in Battle with Sodexho
Workers at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, members of the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees International Union, Local 414, won a huge victory in their fight with Sodexho, the world's largest food service company.
In June 2001, 86 workers at the UW - Oshkosh faced a grim and uncertain future. Sodexho had won the food service contract at Oshkosh and then told workers they would no longer recognize the workers' seniority, their union contract and would not re-hire all the food service workers.
The UW-Oshkosh workers campaigned day and night in their community. They leafleted on campus, at University functions and community events. Hundreds of people around the country wrote to the University Chancellor with a message that the University had to intervene and tell the Sodexho to save the jobs and seniority of the food service workers.
In late June, Sodexho's position suddenly changed. The company declared it would hire back 72 workers and accept their seniority. However, that significant victory was ruined for ten workers who were not hired back by Sodexho.
Therefore, the first priority and most important victory for Local 414 in negotiations was the agreement to re-hire the ten workers and recognize their seniority.
Another victory for Local 414 in negotiations was to succeed in maintaining previous wage rates, job classifications and most other benefits and employment conditions despite Sodexho's original proposals which would have gutted the collective agreement.
Even with everyone back to work and a contract that runs until 2003, workers will face challenges in enforcing and defending their agreement. However, Local 414 was able to negotiate a contract which is very similar to their previous contract.
Finally, the lasting legacy for Local 414 is that they demonstrated that a small, but intensely committed group of workers could take on Sodexho and win. The victory of the Oshkosh food service workers against Sodexho will be an inspiration to thousands of other Sodexho workers around the country.
For more information contact:
Andrea Calver, HERE Int'l Union: 202-393-4373 x 272
Delores Laatsch, Baker and Business Agent, HERE Local 414: 920-235-5660