CT state university cafeteria workers say they’re ignored in decisions about fall semester

Eating corridor employees on the 4 regional state universities say they’re being ignored of the administration’s planning for the autumn semester, and worry they won’t be employed again if lessons are held on-line due to the COVID-19 disaster.

The workers, who work for personal contractors Sodexo and the Compass Group, stated at a web-based press convention Monday they’re as integral to campus life as different workers and should know their employment standing. They amongst 343 members of Native 217 Unite Right here.

“I don’t like being up within the air. I like being settled,” stated Pamela Grey, a 29-year employee at Southern Connecticut State College, which is served by Compass Group. “I’m on a funds proper now.”

Grey stated she underwent a coronary heart and kidney transplant a yr in the past and that the medicines are costly. She fears dropping her medical health insurance. “The principle factor we actually need is respect. I’m attempting to not get frantic from the whole lot that’s occurring.”

Whereas the staff work for the personal eating service suppliers, they keep at their college when a brand new firm is available in on the finish of a contract, the employees stated.

“It’s been our expertise that meals service employees get left behind,” stated Isadora Milanez, an organizer for Native 217. She stated a petition was signed March 20 by 70 p.c of the cafeteria employees asking to satisfy with Mark Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Faculties and Universities.

Ken Blair, president of Native 217 and a lead prepare dinner at Jap Connecticut State College, contacted the Board of Regents, which oversees the system and places out bids for the meals service contracts. He was instructed “the schools haven’t any employment relationship with cafeteria employees since they’re subcontracted,” Milanez stated.

Jap is also served by Compass Group. Western and Central Connecticut state universities are served by Sodexo.

“The regents and these leaders, they’re those which can be going to resolve,” Milanez stated. “They really do have a relationship with us that’s significant and is a two-way avenue. So it’s simply not true that they haven’t any duty.”

The employees are laid off every spring when the semester ends and go on unemployment. This yr, as a result of the schools closed campuses early, the staff are involved about operating out of unemployment advantages, Milanez stated.

Blair, who has labored at Jap for 17 years, stated, “You get to satisfy lots of people, meet numerous children, and also you type a relationship with these children. We’re instructed we’re a part of the group by the corporate; we’re instructed we’re a part of the group by the schools.”

Evaluating cafeteria employees to college and different workers of the schools, Blair stated, “We’re equal to them … however we don’t really feel that approach. The universities and the businesses want to face up and care for the employees.”

Trish DeCarlo of Danbury, who works at WCSU, stated her three youngsters have all gone to state schools. “On this unpredictable time, many individuals are apprehensive,” she stated. “We don’t know if we’ve got our medical health insurance. If we don’t come again in August, that’s going to be an issue for our medical health insurance. And no one offers us solutions.”

DeCarlo stated the schools rent the meals service corporations and “you must watch who you rent as a result of they’re those which can be treating us dangerous and never caring if we’ve got medical health insurance or don’t have medical health insurance. And anyone needs to be answerable for who you rent to care for your colleges.”

Frankie Petraccone, who works at Central Connecticut State College, graduated in 2016 from CCSU with a level in hospitality and tourism administration. “It’s actually been tough for me as a result of I’ve been attempting to speak with my fellow co-workers to reassure them that hopefully we are going to proceed to have insurance coverage by the summer season, we are going to return to jobs within the fall, however with restricted communication coming to us it’s been very, very onerous,” he stated.

“All people else that works on the universities actually has far more job safety and reassurance that they’ll be OK than us,” Petraccone stated.

Leigh Appleby, spokesman for the Connecticut State Faculties and Universities, stated in an announcement, “All through the Covid-19 pandemic, CSCU has been in fixed communication with all of the unions representing our workers. We have now responded rapidly to inquiries from Unite Right here, even supposing their members should not CSCU workers.”

He stated the administration met with members of the union management and helped with sources for employees. “We acknowledge the significance of the Sodexo and Chartwells cafeteria employees that serve CSCU system, and we are going to proceed to speak with the union concerning operations plans for the autumn semester and past.”

Chartwells is a Compass Group firm. Representatives for Sodexo and Compass Group couldn’t be reached for remark.