Hi, my name is Suzan King and I have worked in food service at Plattsburgh State University in New York for over 12 years. Sodexho took over services about 4 years ago. One of the first things they did was lower the maximum raises available from 5% to 4%.

Full time positions have been eased out by filling openings with part timers, student help, or just not filling them at all. Many workers are filling two or more positions.

In the spring of 2003 we started calling for a union. Sodexho has consistently refused to give us card check which they had already done in numerous accounts across New York.

We have marched, held rallies and forums, petitioned and met with local and state government officials. All of whom have thrown their support behind us. The entire campus from faculty and staff to the students have passed resolutions also supporting us. This has gone on for a year and a half now.

Sodexho has not only refused us, but is waging an anti-union campaign and openly harrassing pro-union workers. We filed unfair labor practice charges in the spring of last year. Sodexho settled without admitting guilt. Several months later the NLRB ruled that Sodexho had to post signs promising to cease and desist all anti-union activity. Well, Sodexho didn't miss a beat. They went right on harassing pro-union workers. They even went as far as placing me under house arrest for handing out stickers to my co-workers on my break calling for card check now.

We filed more charges and because they were committed while Sodexho was still on their posting period all charges were combined and we went to court in May of this year. It'll be several months before we get a ruling from the NLRB on that.

This may be in a timely fashion for the NLRB but for the working poor who are still eligible for food stamps and medicaid or who can't afford the insurance it seems like a lifetime.

To my fellow workers and I, any move on behalf of Sodexho or our government officials to stop or delay the card check process is unconscionable.