Here is an incredible response letter Clark Unite! received from one of our faculty member upon learning about our campaign. We are utterly grateful for her support and allowing us to publish her sentiment.
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for your work on behalf of Clark's food service workers. I signed the petition you circulated during yesterday's faculty assembly and was touched by your commitment to establishing fair labor practices for Sodexho employees.
This is a cause that is near and dear to me. I entered academia rather late in life after spending many years as both a union and non-union worker in hotels, restaurants, and bars. I know what it's like to have my job threatened by employer intimidation and how much better my life became when I received union bargaining rights and protection. Simply put, my college and graduate school education was made possible by the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, Minneapolis and St. Paul Minnesota local #17 (HERE / AFL-CIO).
Please relay my heartfelt support to Clark's food service workers.
Sincerely,
Toby Sisson
Assistant Professor of Studio Art
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Clark University
In addition, as of now, over 60 professors have signed the faculty letter crafted by Robert Ross and Dianne Rocheleau!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Workers Face Intimidation and Disrespect. Clark Community Rallies in Their Support!
WHEN: Sunday, February 28th at 11:30 am – 1 pm
WHERE: Crystal Park across from Clark University on Main St.
WHAT: Workers, Clark Unite! for Economic Justice, SEIU Local 615, Mayor Joe O'Brien, and other community members will rally to galvanize support for Clark Sodexo workers’ right to organize free of intimidation.
Sodexo, the company subcontracted by Clark University for food services, has been punishing pro-union workers, cutting hours while hiring new workers, cross-training to make workers expendable, conducting illegal surveillance of union meetings, and using other intimidation methods. The management utilizes systematic favoritism and many workers who have served this community for years still lack the wages and benefits necessary to meet their and their families’ most basic needs. One member of Clark Unite!, Elora Way says, “this is a direct contradiction to Clark’s values and commitment to community and we must address these issues.” Clark UNITE! has attempted to engage the university administration to address these concerns, but has so far been unsuccessful.
Sodexo employees are asking for a national Sodexo agreement to ensure livable wages, better conditions and and greater respect on the job. Sodexo is the world’s 22nd largest employer, with around 120,000 employees in North America. Last year, dispite huge profits, the company paid many of its workers poverty wages. Noemi Nunez, a Sodexo employed cashier at Clark University says, “even though we are struggling just to survive, the main thing is respect."
Clark UNITE! is a group of Clark students, faculty, staff, and alumni committed to organizing around issues of social and economic justice. The group demands that Sodexo maintain a policy of neutrality towards the organizing process and an expedient method of unionization democratically chosen by workers, such as card check or majority sign up. Clark UNITE! is also demanding a labor code of conduct to be adopted by Clark University.
Clark UNITE! works to promote equal access to dignified employment, worker's rights to organize, and the fair distribution of resources. The group supports Clark Sodexo food service workers' right to organize for better working conditions. We value their service to the Clark community.
WHERE: Crystal Park across from Clark University on Main St.
WHAT: Workers, Clark Unite! for Economic Justice, SEIU Local 615, Mayor Joe O'Brien, and other community members will rally to galvanize support for Clark Sodexo workers’ right to organize free of intimidation.
Sodexo, the company subcontracted by Clark University for food services, has been punishing pro-union workers, cutting hours while hiring new workers, cross-training to make workers expendable, conducting illegal surveillance of union meetings, and using other intimidation methods. The management utilizes systematic favoritism and many workers who have served this community for years still lack the wages and benefits necessary to meet their and their families’ most basic needs. One member of Clark Unite!, Elora Way says, “this is a direct contradiction to Clark’s values and commitment to community and we must address these issues.” Clark UNITE! has attempted to engage the university administration to address these concerns, but has so far been unsuccessful.
Sodexo employees are asking for a national Sodexo agreement to ensure livable wages, better conditions and and greater respect on the job. Sodexo is the world’s 22nd largest employer, with around 120,000 employees in North America. Last year, dispite huge profits, the company paid many of its workers poverty wages. Noemi Nunez, a Sodexo employed cashier at Clark University says, “even though we are struggling just to survive, the main thing is respect."
Clark UNITE! is a group of Clark students, faculty, staff, and alumni committed to organizing around issues of social and economic justice. The group demands that Sodexo maintain a policy of neutrality towards the organizing process and an expedient method of unionization democratically chosen by workers, such as card check or majority sign up. Clark UNITE! is also demanding a labor code of conduct to be adopted by Clark University.
Clark UNITE! works to promote equal access to dignified employment, worker's rights to organize, and the fair distribution of resources. The group supports Clark Sodexo food service workers' right to organize for better working conditions. We value their service to the Clark community.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A Second Letter Delivered to Bassett
On Monday students hand-delivered a more explicit letter to President Bassett and Provost Angel representing the third piece of communication between Clark Unite! and Clark Administration.
Dear President Bassett,
We appreciate your response to our letter. However, it falls short of the commitments that Clark University, its faculty, and student body have to our community. We are not asking that Clark simply ensure its subcontractors follow the National Labor Relations Act, which was written for a 1930's employment environment. We are asking that Clark uphold its motto to "challenge convention and change our world" by holding itself and its contractors to a higher standard of neutrality.
With the NLRA as a minimum standard, SEIU Local 615 is currently pursuing two Unfair Labor Practices that have taken place at Clark. These include supervisors illegally attending a union meeting on January 15th and Sodexo disciplining union supporter Michelle Roman in retaliation for her support for the union on January 20th.
Sodexo is also employing anti-union tactics that current law allows, but that are a direct contradiction to Clark’s values and commitment to community. Clark must address all of these issues in order to maintain its position as a leader in social responsibility.
We recognize your stated desire to uphold Clark’s values and monitor the organizing process at Sodexo. However, as Clark University currently lacks the necessary mechanisms to do this, it is imperative that Clark adopt the following policies:
1. That Clark University demand that Sodexo maintain a policy of neutrality towards the organizing process. Adopting neutrality will prevent Sodexo from employing coercive tactics through contractual agreement.
2. That Clark University shall demand recognition of card check or majority sign up from Sodexo.
3. That Clark University notifies employees and subcontracted employees both of their right to organize and their right to participate, or not, free of punishment.
4. That Clark University works to adopt the proposed Campus Labor Code of Conduct in a timely manner.
5. That all Clark University contracts be made public information starting immediately with Clark's contract with Sodexo.
We look forward to your partnership in building a stronger, more vibrant, and responsible employment environment for members of the Clark community. We would like to ask for a meeting during the first week of March to discuss these issues further with you and Provost David Angel. Please contact Sasha Susman at ssusman@clarku.edu or sasha.susman@gmail.com, or through campus mail at Box # 1986.
Sincerely,
Clark Unite!
CC: Provost David Angel, Dean Walter Wright, Jack Foley, Chairman William Mosakowski, The Board of Trustees, Undergraduate Student Council, Graduate Student Council, Paul Wykes
Dear President Bassett,
We appreciate your response to our letter. However, it falls short of the commitments that Clark University, its faculty, and student body have to our community. We are not asking that Clark simply ensure its subcontractors follow the National Labor Relations Act, which was written for a 1930's employment environment. We are asking that Clark uphold its motto to "challenge convention and change our world" by holding itself and its contractors to a higher standard of neutrality.
With the NLRA as a minimum standard, SEIU Local 615 is currently pursuing two Unfair Labor Practices that have taken place at Clark. These include supervisors illegally attending a union meeting on January 15th and Sodexo disciplining union supporter Michelle Roman in retaliation for her support for the union on January 20th.
Sodexo is also employing anti-union tactics that current law allows, but that are a direct contradiction to Clark’s values and commitment to community. Clark must address all of these issues in order to maintain its position as a leader in social responsibility.
We recognize your stated desire to uphold Clark’s values and monitor the organizing process at Sodexo. However, as Clark University currently lacks the necessary mechanisms to do this, it is imperative that Clark adopt the following policies:
1. That Clark University demand that Sodexo maintain a policy of neutrality towards the organizing process. Adopting neutrality will prevent Sodexo from employing coercive tactics through contractual agreement.
2. That Clark University shall demand recognition of card check or majority sign up from Sodexo.
3. That Clark University notifies employees and subcontracted employees both of their right to organize and their right to participate, or not, free of punishment.
4. That Clark University works to adopt the proposed Campus Labor Code of Conduct in a timely manner.
5. That all Clark University contracts be made public information starting immediately with Clark's contract with Sodexo.
We look forward to your partnership in building a stronger, more vibrant, and responsible employment environment for members of the Clark community. We would like to ask for a meeting during the first week of March to discuss these issues further with you and Provost David Angel. Please contact Sasha Susman at ssusman@clarku.edu or sasha.susman@gmail.com, or through campus mail at Box # 1986.
Sincerely,
Clark Unite!
CC: Provost David Angel, Dean Walter Wright, Jack Foley, Chairman William Mosakowski, The Board of Trustees, Undergraduate Student Council, Graduate Student Council, Paul Wykes
Sunday, February 14, 2010
President Basset's Response
To Clark UNITE!:
Your communication to me arrived while I was out of town. I do appreciate your interest in the efforts by some of the Sodexo workers to form a union. We have worked with the Sodexo management, and they have assured us that they will continue to follow the processes outlined for these initiatives by the National Labor Relations Board. In the more than two years that Sodexo has managed the food services at Clark, we have never had a complaint brought forward to our attention by anyone working in the food services We respect, however, this is a process of dialogue among the employees and will monitor it to be aware of any violations from either side.
Sincerely,
John Basset
Your communication to me arrived while I was out of town. I do appreciate your interest in the efforts by some of the Sodexo workers to form a union. We have worked with the Sodexo management, and they have assured us that they will continue to follow the processes outlined for these initiatives by the National Labor Relations Board. In the more than two years that Sodexo has managed the food services at Clark, we have never had a complaint brought forward to our attention by anyone working in the food services We respect, however, this is a process of dialogue among the employees and will monitor it to be aware of any violations from either side.
Sincerely,
John Basset
Saturday, February 13, 2010
First Clark Unite! Solidarity Action
You may have seen people wearing purple shirts in the cafeteria last Friday, January 29th, during lunch. This was an action organized by Clark Unite!, a new Clark community group composed of Clark students, faculty, and staff committed to organizing around issues of social and economic justice. This action was held in direct response to intimidation of workers who prepare and serve food at the Higgins Café, The Bistro, and Jazzman’s Café and Bakery.
Workers are organizing for union recognition from their employer, Sodexo. Sodexo management has gone as far as tricking workers into attending mandatory meetings under false pretenses where managers provided false anti-union information. The management utilizes systematic favoritism and many workers who have served this community for years still lack the wages and benefits necessary to meet their and their families’ most basic needs.
As a display of support for the food service workers’ right to organize in the Clark community, Clark Unite! walked into the cafeteria to eat and deliver our concerns about worker’s intimidation to Sodexo management. Clark Unite! expressed concerns verbally to the manager, but he refused to take our detailed letter. In this letter we made demands including the right to organize, that workers not be harassed or intimidated in the process, that Sodexo respect any method of unionization, and that there will be no negative consequences for workers exercising their rights, among others.
We also presented a letter to Clark administration expressing our concerns with Sodexo and expectations from Clark. This letter demanded that Clark University require all contractors to recognize any legal method of unionization democratically chosen by workers, including card check or majority sign up. No resources controlled by Clark University, financial or otherwise, should go towards supporting anti-union activities. We also proposed a Labor Code of Conduct for them to adopt. We have done this so that we are in honest communication with the Clark administration as we continue to work together to make the Clark community stronger.
Clark Unite! became active in this campaign through the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the union which is leading a national campaign to organize Sodexo workers. As Clark Unite!, we work to promote equal access to dignified employment, worker’s right to organize, and the fair distribution of resources. If you are interested in becoming involved email us at clarkunite@gmail.com and stay tuned for future actions. Check us out on Facebook or at clark-unite.blogspot.com
Workers are organizing for union recognition from their employer, Sodexo. Sodexo management has gone as far as tricking workers into attending mandatory meetings under false pretenses where managers provided false anti-union information. The management utilizes systematic favoritism and many workers who have served this community for years still lack the wages and benefits necessary to meet their and their families’ most basic needs.
As a display of support for the food service workers’ right to organize in the Clark community, Clark Unite! walked into the cafeteria to eat and deliver our concerns about worker’s intimidation to Sodexo management. Clark Unite! expressed concerns verbally to the manager, but he refused to take our detailed letter. In this letter we made demands including the right to organize, that workers not be harassed or intimidated in the process, that Sodexo respect any method of unionization, and that there will be no negative consequences for workers exercising their rights, among others.
We also presented a letter to Clark administration expressing our concerns with Sodexo and expectations from Clark. This letter demanded that Clark University require all contractors to recognize any legal method of unionization democratically chosen by workers, including card check or majority sign up. No resources controlled by Clark University, financial or otherwise, should go towards supporting anti-union activities. We also proposed a Labor Code of Conduct for them to adopt. We have done this so that we are in honest communication with the Clark administration as we continue to work together to make the Clark community stronger.
Clark Unite! became active in this campaign through the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the union which is leading a national campaign to organize Sodexo workers. As Clark Unite!, we work to promote equal access to dignified employment, worker’s right to organize, and the fair distribution of resources. If you are interested in becoming involved email us at clarkunite@gmail.com and stay tuned for future actions. Check us out on Facebook or at clark-unite.blogspot.com
Clark Unite!'s Proposed Labor Code of Conduct
Clark University affirms the internationally recognized right of all workers to form associations in conjunction with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 23) and wants Clark to be a place that affirms and upholds this right, so that workers may associate without fear of intimidation, harassment, and discrimination. Clark agrees to, at a minimum, adhere to the principles set forth in the Code. The University will require all administrators, managers, supervisors, contractors and subcontractors to adhere to the principles set forth in the Code. The University will provide a copy of this Code to all current contractors and subcontractors; From the date of adoption forward, the University will incorporate this Code into all new and re-negotiated contracts, and require its contractors to incorporate this Code into any sub-contracts or agreements for work engaged on University premises.
A. The term “campus worker” shall, for purposes of the Code, and unless otherwise specified in the Code, encompass all employees working on campus whether direct employees, employees of contractors and/or subcontractors not limited by hours or length of employment term (full time, part time, or temporary). “Campus worker” includes but not limited to: food service workers, janitorial staff, grounds staff, parking attendants, security officers, clerical workers, librarians, drivers, engineers, construction workers, professors and teaching assistants.
No campus worker shall be subject to harassment, intimidation or retaliation in their efforts to freely associate or bargain collectively. The University shall not cooperate with contractors or subcontractors that attempt to prevent workers from organizing a union of their choice. Universities shall allow union organizers free access to employees and the employees of contractors and subcontractors. The University shall recognize the union of the employees’ choice.
B. The University respects the rights of workers to choose for themselves whether to form and join a union and commits that it will remain neutral on the issue of worker unionization. The University will ensure that its administration, management personnel, contractors and subcontractors honor this commitment and abide by the following:
1. The University agrees that it will not attempt to influence workers about their choice concerning union representation; and that it will not allow the use of campus resources or the expenditure of University funds to influence workers about their choice concerning union representation.
2. The University will allow representatives of labor organizations access to the campus and to campus facilities for the purpose of providing information to workers to inform workers about union representation and their rights to form and join a union. This provision includes access to the employees of contractors and subcontractors.
3. The University recognizes that workers are allowed to express their views and opinions regarding union representation. No workers on the University campus will be questioned by supervisory, management, or administration personnel, including contractors and subcontractors, about their support or membership, or lack thereof, in a labor union; no workers on the University campus will be subjected to harassment because of their membership or non-membership in a labor union or their activity in support or derogation of union representation; and no workers on the University campus will receive preferential treatment because of their membership or non-membership in a labor union or their activity in support or derogation of union representation.
C. The University will notify its employees and employees of its contractors and subcontractors, in writing, that it respects their rights regarding union representation; and advise them that the University has agreed to a policy of neutrality concerning workers' efforts to achieve union representation and that there will be no negative consequences for employees who exercise their right to support union representation.
D. The University, as well as its contractors and subcontractors, will honor any legal method of unionization as chosen by the workers. Legal method of unionization includes a card-check or majority sign-up procedure.
E. The University, its contractors and subcontractors will uphold the right to collective bargaining by negotiating with the workers’ representative in a fair and expeditious manner.
F. The University will enter in an agreement to effectuate the principles of this code within the bounds of good faith.
A. The term “campus worker” shall, for purposes of the Code, and unless otherwise specified in the Code, encompass all employees working on campus whether direct employees, employees of contractors and/or subcontractors not limited by hours or length of employment term (full time, part time, or temporary). “Campus worker” includes but not limited to: food service workers, janitorial staff, grounds staff, parking attendants, security officers, clerical workers, librarians, drivers, engineers, construction workers, professors and teaching assistants.
No campus worker shall be subject to harassment, intimidation or retaliation in their efforts to freely associate or bargain collectively. The University shall not cooperate with contractors or subcontractors that attempt to prevent workers from organizing a union of their choice. Universities shall allow union organizers free access to employees and the employees of contractors and subcontractors. The University shall recognize the union of the employees’ choice.
B. The University respects the rights of workers to choose for themselves whether to form and join a union and commits that it will remain neutral on the issue of worker unionization. The University will ensure that its administration, management personnel, contractors and subcontractors honor this commitment and abide by the following:
1. The University agrees that it will not attempt to influence workers about their choice concerning union representation; and that it will not allow the use of campus resources or the expenditure of University funds to influence workers about their choice concerning union representation.
2. The University will allow representatives of labor organizations access to the campus and to campus facilities for the purpose of providing information to workers to inform workers about union representation and their rights to form and join a union. This provision includes access to the employees of contractors and subcontractors.
3. The University recognizes that workers are allowed to express their views and opinions regarding union representation. No workers on the University campus will be questioned by supervisory, management, or administration personnel, including contractors and subcontractors, about their support or membership, or lack thereof, in a labor union; no workers on the University campus will be subjected to harassment because of their membership or non-membership in a labor union or their activity in support or derogation of union representation; and no workers on the University campus will receive preferential treatment because of their membership or non-membership in a labor union or their activity in support or derogation of union representation.
C. The University will notify its employees and employees of its contractors and subcontractors, in writing, that it respects their rights regarding union representation; and advise them that the University has agreed to a policy of neutrality concerning workers' efforts to achieve union representation and that there will be no negative consequences for employees who exercise their right to support union representation.
D. The University, as well as its contractors and subcontractors, will honor any legal method of unionization as chosen by the workers. Legal method of unionization includes a card-check or majority sign-up procedure.
E. The University, its contractors and subcontractors will uphold the right to collective bargaining by negotiating with the workers’ representative in a fair and expeditious manner.
F. The University will enter in an agreement to effectuate the principles of this code within the bounds of good faith.
Letter to President Basset
January 29, 2010
President John Bassett
Clark University
Dear President Bassett,
We write to you to address an urgent matter on campus. Workers who prepare and serve food at the Higgins Café, The Bistro, and Jazzman’s Café and Bakery are facing serious intimidation and discrimination as they organize to seek union recognition from their employer, Sodexo, Inc. Sodexo management on campus has been directly intimidating workers, going as far as tricking workers into attending mandatory meetings under false pretenses where managers provided false anti-union information. The management utilizes systematic favoritism and countless workers who have served this community for years still lack the wages necessary to meet their and their families’ most basic needs.
As President, you have the power to require any campus contractor to stop violating the rights of hard working people who make our university run. Clark University has the opportunity to set a moral precedent on this matter and to be a leader in the university community, embodying our motto, “challenge convention, change our world.” We urge you to adopt as policy that: Clark University will require all contractors to recognize any legal method of unionization democratically chosen by workers, including card check or majority sign up. No resources controlled by Clark University, financial or otherwise, will go towards supporting anti-union activities.
As students of Clark University, an institution that prides itself in its community engagement, community activism, and overall moral regard for the well-being and dignity of our fellow human beings, we want our university to uphold the right to organize and collectively bargain for all workers on our campus. This means Clark University’s subcontracted employees must be able to organize and collectively bargain without fear of intimidation, harassment, or discrimination. Union recognition and collective bargaining is the only way for employees to have dignity at work and ensure that they receive the wages and benefits they deserve.
Given the urgency of this matter, we expect to hear a response from you no later then February 5th, 2010. Members of our group are happy to meet to discuss this matter. We have attached an example of the labor policy we wish for Clark University to adopt. You may contact us through our representative Sasha Susman at Campus Box #1986 or via email at ssusman@clarku.edu.
Sincerely,
Clark UNITE!
CC: Clark Board of Trustees, Provost David Angel, and Clark University Graduate and Undergraduate Student Council
President John Bassett
Clark University
Dear President Bassett,
We write to you to address an urgent matter on campus. Workers who prepare and serve food at the Higgins Café, The Bistro, and Jazzman’s Café and Bakery are facing serious intimidation and discrimination as they organize to seek union recognition from their employer, Sodexo, Inc. Sodexo management on campus has been directly intimidating workers, going as far as tricking workers into attending mandatory meetings under false pretenses where managers provided false anti-union information. The management utilizes systematic favoritism and countless workers who have served this community for years still lack the wages necessary to meet their and their families’ most basic needs.
As President, you have the power to require any campus contractor to stop violating the rights of hard working people who make our university run. Clark University has the opportunity to set a moral precedent on this matter and to be a leader in the university community, embodying our motto, “challenge convention, change our world.” We urge you to adopt as policy that: Clark University will require all contractors to recognize any legal method of unionization democratically chosen by workers, including card check or majority sign up. No resources controlled by Clark University, financial or otherwise, will go towards supporting anti-union activities.
As students of Clark University, an institution that prides itself in its community engagement, community activism, and overall moral regard for the well-being and dignity of our fellow human beings, we want our university to uphold the right to organize and collectively bargain for all workers on our campus. This means Clark University’s subcontracted employees must be able to organize and collectively bargain without fear of intimidation, harassment, or discrimination. Union recognition and collective bargaining is the only way for employees to have dignity at work and ensure that they receive the wages and benefits they deserve.
Given the urgency of this matter, we expect to hear a response from you no later then February 5th, 2010. Members of our group are happy to meet to discuss this matter. We have attached an example of the labor policy we wish for Clark University to adopt. You may contact us through our representative Sasha Susman at Campus Box #1986 or via email at ssusman@clarku.edu.
Sincerely,
Clark UNITE!
CC: Clark Board of Trustees, Provost David Angel, and Clark University Graduate and Undergraduate Student Council
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