Food Service Workers tag:www.foodserviceworkers.org,2006://1 2006-02-03T10:48:57Z The IUF's website for Aramark, Compass and Sodexho workers in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom and the USA. Movable Type 3.2 USA: Aramark's Performance in Prison Foodservice Monitored in New Website tag:www.foodserviceworkers.org,2006://1.14 2006-02-03T10:47:48Z 2006-02-03T10:48:57Z Alliance for Quality Services has launched a new website, www.EyeOnAramarkPrisonContracts.info, which takes an independent critical look at Aramark’s performance in state and correctional facilities.... ericlee Alliance for Quality Services has launched a new website, www.EyeOnAramarkPrisonContracts.info, which takes an independent critical look at Aramark’s performance in state and correctional facilities.

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New York, NY – Alliance for Quality Services has launched a new website, Eye On Aramark Prison Contracts, which monitors Aramark’s performance in correctional facilities. The site provides independent information about Aramark’s record in prison food service to jail administrators, state and county officials and other correctional professionals.

Drawing on documentary research, Eye on Aramark Prison Contracts provides reports about events leading to Aramark’s resignation in Tarrant County, Texas, including food shortages and near riots over food service; an expose into Aramark’s tenure in Florida state prisons; a report on the ongoing grand jury investigation into Aramark’s operations at a Pennsylvania prison; an Ohio State Auditor’s investigation into Aramark’s operation at a state correctional facility; and numerous other reports of unsanitary conditions and security breaches in state and county prisons throughout the country.

These reports raise a fundamental question: are Aramark’s low-cost bids truly saving money for state and prison officials or do they carry hidden costs?

To read more about these reports, go to www.EyeOnAramarkPrisonContracts.info

The Alliance for Quality Services, a project of UNITE HERE and SEIU, is a coalition of community members – consumers, clients, investors and workers – committed to maintaining and improving the quality of services, jobs and life in communities and neighborhoods across the country and around the world.

]]> Canada: Sodexho workers vote yes to unionize tag:www.foodserviceworkers.org,2006://1.12 2006-02-03T10:43:26Z 2006-02-03T10:44:32Z Employees from York University's largest cafeteria operator, Sodexho, have voted 78 per cent in favour of unionization after months of lengthy talks. UNITE HERE, which represents over 50,000 members in Canada, including hospitality industry employees, has been helping Sodexho workers... ericlee Employees from York University's largest cafeteria operator, Sodexho, have voted 78 per cent in favour of unionization after months of lengthy talks.

UNITE HERE, which represents over 50,000 members in Canada, including hospitality industry employees, has been helping Sodexho workers unionize over the past two months.

See the full story here

]]> Full contact details for all affiliated unions tag:www.foodserviceworkers.org,2006://1.11 2006-01-18T06:24:44Z 2006-02-22T10:28:42Z ericlee NUPGE
Carol Meyer
15 Auriga Drive
Nepean
Ontario K2E 1B7
Canada
Tel.:+1 613 228 9800
Fax.:+1 613 228 9801

NGG
Klaus Schroeter
Hacbachstrasse 76
Postfach 501180
DE-22711 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.:+49 4038 0130
Fax.:49 40389 2637

SIPTU
Noel Dowling
Liberty Hall
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel.:+353 1 874 9731
Fax.:+353 1 874 8642

TGWU
Kevin Pass
transport House
128 Theobald's Road
Holborn
London
WC1X 8TN
UK
+44 20 7611 2500
Fax.:+44 20 7611 2555

SEIU
Tom Woodruff
1313 L Street N.W:
Washington
D.C.20005
USA
Tel.:+1 202 898 3498
Fax.:+1 202 898 3403

UNITE HERE
Ginny Coughlin
275 7th Avenue
New York
N.Y. 10001-6708
USA
Tel.: +1 212 265 7000
Fax.:+1 212 265 3415

LHMU
Louise Tarrant
Locked Bag 9
Haymarket
NSW 1240
Australia
Tel.:+61 2 8204 7200
fax.:+61 2 9281 4480

]]> Plattsburgh NY: Sodexho is "openly harrassing pro-union workers" tag:www.foodserviceworkers.org,2006://1.9 2006-01-17T08:25:49Z 2006-01-17T08:48:06Z Testimony of Sodexho employee Suzan King.... ericlee Testimony of Sodexho employee Suzan King.

]]> 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.

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