Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Workers’ Union Certified

Georgetown’s dining workers officially united on Tuesday when employer Aramark Higher Education certified their union, according to David Schwartz (SFS ’12), a leader in the unionization efforts that have been going on for several months.

The union, which represents workers from O’Donovan Hall, the Jesuit Residence, Cosi, Starbucks and the Preclinical Building’s Dr. Mug, will operate under the umbrella of UNITE HERE, a labor union that assists over 90,000 food service employees worldwide.

“The workers are excited about engaging in their first contract negotiations as a union,” Schwartz said of the talks with Aramark, which are set to begin soon.

“Now, we must stick together to push ahead and achieve everything we are fighting for; things like better treatment, affordable medical insurance, and fair raises for the hard work that we do,” union worker Rafael Benitez said in a press release today.

“We, the workers of Leo’s, banded together to fight for our right to be treated with dignity and respected as valued the employees we are and to be paid as such,” Cathy Andersan also said in a press release. “We have a voice and we want to be heard.

Schwartz and other students and administrators have been coordinating with the workers in their push to unionize since July.

The current minimum wage for dining workers on the Hilltop comes out to $11.34, which can make it difficult for employees to cover health care costs, Schwartz said in February.

“Some of the demands that the workers had were over higher pay and over the way the company treats them,” said Gianna Puccinelli, a part-time worker at Starbucks who is considering joining the union.

On Feb. 9, about 80 percent of workers signed a request to Aramark asking the food service company to remain  neutral if the workers wanted to form a union.

“Aramark is neither anti-union, nor pro-union. However, we would note that for half a century, Aramark has enjoyed excellent relationships with the 35-plus different unions that represent our employees,” Karen Cutler, director of Aramark communications, said in an email at the time.

During the unionization process, the university has supported the workers, some of whom have been at Georgetown for as long as 30 years. In a letter sent to Aramark on Feb. 3, Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services and Assistant Vice President of Business Policy Planning LaMarr Billups affirmed Georgetown’s commitment to its workers.

Schwartz said that the student and faculty advisory group will also continue to be closely involved in the negotiations.

A few hundred students, including leaders of prominent campus groups such as Georgetown University College Democrats, NAACP, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán and EcoAction, as well as 30 faculty members and administrators, have been meeting with the workers since July to discuss the prospect of unionization.

A press release sent April 1 by Schwartz detailed the student backers’ next steps, saying that students will visually demonstrate their support for the workers and their unionization efforts over the next few days. The group also plans to continue their involvement in the contract negotiation process.

“My sincere thanks go to the students, the professors and the various organizations that stand with us in this endeavor. Much thanks goes out also to my fellow committee members and organizers,” Anderson concluded in her April 7 statement.

Aramark and university officials could not be reached for comment.

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