Pres. Bassett Denies Labor Rights at Clark

It had been nearly eight weeks since Clark University's President Bassett learned of Sodexo’s illegal and immoral treatment of their employees at Clark. Finally, his response to Clark Unite! this past Wednesday, March 24th in a private meeting with four students was refusal to even acknowledge (much less act on) the situation of grave injustice.

These remarks on the part of the University’s highest administrator are unsettling considering recent events. 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. The intimidation includes several illegal Unfair Labor Practices, such as forcing workers to attend mandatory meetings under false pretenses where managers provided false anti-union information. Clark Unite! believes that at Clark no one should have their legal right to join a union violated. Even more, the group believes that the University should be better than the law, and publicly guarantee that this is a safe place for democratic union drives.

Bassett, Provost Angel and Vice President for Business Jim Collins (who also attended the meeting) were totally opposed to doing anything to respond to Clark Unite!’s demands, and sided with Sodexo management’s version of the truth. The three men’s initial statement in the meeting on Wednesday was that they felt we all had essentially the same values. This attempt at harmony was destroyed when the administration admitted that they are only willing to hear about working conditions from Sodexo management, not workers. They are only interested in investigating specific problems and worker complaints on an individual basis and as isolated events.

President Bassett expressed his belief that neutrality would limit Sodexo's corporate right to free speech. What is more, he claimed to not have clear evidence from us ("4 students and
1 or 2 faculty") that workers were being intimidated, and that they could believe Sodexo management's reports about the feelings and conditions of the workers. In reality, over 1,000 clark students and alumni and 78 faculty members have signed a petition calling on Bassett to declare support for workers’ right to join a union free of intimidation and harassment. On top of that support on behalf of individuals, the Clark University Student Council has endorsed Clark Unite!’s proposals, as well as over 40 other student groups and associations. How can Bassett completely disregard the opinions of those who make up his University?

Bassett and his two colleagues refused to take a stance on preferential rehire, a crucial policy that could guarantee Sodexo workers’ jobs regardless of whether they are pro- or anti- union. Their reasoning was that because there had never been a problem expressed to them about it in the past, they saw no reason to publicly demand anything of Sodexo.

They ignored the fact that many workers feel that their jobs will be (or already are) at risk if they speak out about the union. Some workers' jobs already are (one worker has had her hours cut and had to take a night job at the same time Sodexo made new hires). Targeted retaliation against workers who support unionization is entirely unfair and undemocratic.

Clark UNITE! is a group of Clark students, faculty, staff, and alumni committed to organizing around issues of social and economic justice. We work to promote equal access to dignified employment, worker's rights to organize, and the fair distribution of resources. We support Clark Sodexo food service workers' right to organize for better working conditions. They have the right to do so without intimidation. We value their service to the Clark community.

Clark Unite! will continue to advocate the University administration for freedom and democracy for campus workers. Bassett’s response falls shockingly and disappointingly short of the commitment the University supposedly has made to the community. 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.