From: adam szlachetka (rundmc100@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Dec 14 2001 - 10:30:53 EST
on wednesday gw students (progressive student union) and
food service workers had a work stoppage/ protest during
lunch time...check the story
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WEB EXCLUSIVE: J Street employees stop work in protest
By Heather Sala
http://gwhatchet.com/main.cfm/include/detail/storyid/159926.html
Posted 1:50 a.m. Dec. 13-Chanting together and displaying
union pins, J Street workers left their work stations and
stopped working for one minute at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to
protest what they call unfair labor practices. About 15
students, mostly members of the Progressive Student Union,
joined about 25 J Street workers near Starbuck's to protest
Aramark, the company that manages GW's food service.
"We're here to expose the injustice that Aramark is doing
and on top of that we're here to show solidarity with the
workers," PSU member Eleiza Braun, a junior, said. "We've
been talking to them a lot and realize that there are some
pretty oppressive conditions going on by Aramark toward the
workers."
"We are the union, the mighty, mighty union," students and
workers chanted.
Among other complaints, J Street workers say:
o managers disrespect them
o they do not receive proper salary or health insurance
o they are not allowed to display union buttons
GW Dining Services and Aramark officials failed to return
repeated phone calls for comment.
Aramark has been the food service provider to GW for five
years.
Students and J Street workers said Aramark has treated the
workers with disrespect by enforcing "unjust" rules.
"They are threatened with losing their jobs. To get their
sick leave they have to have a doctor's note each time,"
said PSU member Jessica Farley, a junior.
The PSU is 20 years old, making it the longest-standing
progressive group at GW, sophomore member Allison Robbins
said.
"We heard that the J Street workers were having trouble,
and it was one of our issues," Robbins said.
Workers said conditions have gotten worse since May, when
Aramark brought in new management. The PSU has supported
the workers since the end of September, Robbins said.
"You have problems with all companies. But some companies
do respect your contract, but this one hasn't," J Street
worker James Laboarad said. "They've been here 5 years, and
I've been here 12, so this is my house."
Aramark fails to show workers their weekly timesheets, and
employees are not being fully compensated, workers said.
Aramark employee Howard Everett said he is only being paid
for eight hours a day even though he works 10.
J Street workers also allege they are not permitted to
carry cell phones or pagers.
Employees said their family members can reach them for
emergencies by calling a certain phone number, but messages
are not being transferred to them.
One J Street worker refuses to obey the rule prohibiting
the use of cell phones at work.
"I've got two kids, six and four, and they are in school. I
need a phone at all times," worker Lolita Mickle said. "I'm
gonna have a cell phone no matter what because my kids are
away from me."
J Street worker Miriam Patterson said Aramark employees
have signed petitions, sent letters to Aramark headquarters
and are now seeking the advice of an attorney to decide
upon future action.
"We want to show them that there is unity and we're not
going to give up," Patterson said.
Other non-PSU member students supported the Wednesday
protest.
"I know what it's like to be an employee and to not get
paid on time. And that's an issue that I think is pretty
ridiculous all around," junior T. J. Miller said.
Some students said they think students need to treat the
workers with more respect.
"They really care about serving the students and what they
do, which is hard to imagine given they just serve students
all day. But they care about it, and they deserve respect,"
Farley said.
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