Over 200 food service workers at York are currently bargaining a new contract. Their old contract expired in September 2016.
The funding that York provides Aramark to manage food services on our campus is not enough, and keeps hundreds of workers in poverty jobs. York could solve this problem immediately by providing adequate funding for food services, and help food service workers get a fair deal.
All of us meet and interact with food service workers every single day: they prepare our meals, they serve us coffee, they keep the food courts running smoothly. Their hard work makes it possible for literally tens of thousands of students, staff and faculty to spend long days on campus—to study, to learn, to teach and to work.
Like all workers at York, they deserve respect and dignity at work, decent wages and benefits, and good working conditions. However, these workers work long hours in low-wage, precarious jobs and often face harassment in their workplace.
This is unacceptable.
Our university is committed to social justice. That must include food service workers. Here’s how YUSA can help them win a fair deal:
1) Click on York15.ca and let President Shoukri know you support food service workers. Sign up for updates about a possible strike.
2) Share York15.ca with co-workers, friends and family and ask them to support food service workers.
3) Wear a solidarity sticker to show food service workers you support them (or tell them when you order/pay for food). Stickers will be distributed at Aramark locations this week.
4) Post a “solidarity selfie” of yourself wearing a sticker or in front of a solidarity poster (see below). Tag your friends and use #York15 and #YorkU.
5) If there’s a strike, try not to use Aramark food services, especially for any catering. Get food/drink at the Student Centre, York Lanes, or other non-Aramark venues. For a full list of alternatives (including catering options), click here.
Solidarity can make a difference! Show your support, and help these workers get a fair deal.
