Students Help Dining Services Workers

Allie Robbins, Progressive Student Union Member

On October 10, 2002 the dining service workers on GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus won an amazing victory!  After two and a half months without a contract, Aramark (the provider of all dining services on the Foggy Bottom Campus) agreed to give the workers everything they were asking for including a raise, a better benefit package, and more union jobs in the Marvin Center basement.  But despite the huge contract victory, it seems that the situation for GW’s dining service workers may have gotten worse, not better.  Several workers (primarily female) have reported cases of harassment--including sexual harassment--by Aramark management since the new contract was agreed upon.  The grievance procedure, workers’ only form of recourse, still drags on for months.  This leaves workers who were fired or suspended without process out on the street with no way to provide for their families for an indefinite amount of time.  This majority female workforce is forced to come into work every day into an extremely hostile environment, where they are treated as less than human.  If you would like more information on how you can help by getting involved, please e-mail gwpsu@gwu.edu.