Aramark sits down with UNC workers

Frustrated students and Carolina Dining Services employees voiced their grievances with Aramark Corp. representatives Friday in the groups’ first formal meeting since protests began almost a month ago.

Most students and employees left the meetings — which were conducted behind locked doors — without a resolution in sight.

“They reiterated concern for the welfare of their employees with no plan to change anything,” said Jillian Johnson, a North Carolina student organizer for Service Workers United and a member of Student Action with Workers.

The sparks of contention that have plagued students and employees’ relations with the corporation that employs Carolina Dining Services workers ignited at the beginning of Friday’s meeting.

Aramark representatives insisted that the meeting include only students, not workers.

“The meeting I thought was requested and accepted was with students,” said Elizabeth Campbell, vice president of Aramark’s Philadelphia office.

After more than 15 minutes of discussion, students and workers settled on two separate meetings.

“We feel it was an intentional move,” Johnson said. “They don’t want the workers there because they don’t want the evidence for our allegations to be present when we present them. Their attempts to break our coalition is to keep information from people and manipulate them.”

University administrators oversaw a meeting with four Aramark representatives and students from various organizations, including Student Action with Workers, student government, the Black Student Movement, Campus Y and the Carolina Hispanic Association.

Students presented their support for further investigation into CDS employee Vel Dowdy’s arrest and their charges against Aramark for worker harassment.

Dowdy, a popular pro-union Lenoir Dining Hall cashier, was arrested March 25 and charged with felony embezzlement of food.

Students also voiced support for card-check neutrality, a plan under which individual workers would be able to decide whether to join a union. Aramark representatives support a policy that allows all workers to vote to unionize in private.

“We demand that the University and Aramark take immediate action about the situation,” Johnson said.

Representatives told students that the company requires an internal investigation of the allegations and that it will not accept the claims of students or a third-party investigation, Johnson said.

While the discussion continued behind closed doors, CDS workers waited outside for almost two hours, discussing methods for presenting their cases.

“We’ve got to be professional,” said union organizer Janet Boston, a representative of Service Workers United. “They’re going to have to listen to us now. Right now is your opportunity to tell it all. It’s about everybody, every issue. It’s about the unfairness that’s happening here.”

When employees had the chance to present their side, the meeting again was delayed as students searched for a translator suitable to the Aramark representatives.

“They wouldn’t allow any students in, period,” said SAW member Melanie Stratton.

When Aramark found a translator, the meeting CDS workers waited months for finally began.

Employees ranging from those recently hired to those who have served students for almost 13 years shared stories with Aramark representatives.

“I’m only one,” said Grady McKinney, who works at the Chop House at the Rams Head Center. “I notice things I can bring to the table myself.”

CDS workers came out of the meeting able to breathe the first sigh of relief since the controversy began.

“They’re trying to work on it,” CDS employee George Noell said. “They did a lot of listening. They said they’d be willing to meet with us.”

But other employees were skeptical and said they hope to see more employees in attendance at future meetings.

“We want something to support us,” McKinney said. “We just want to be heard. We want to better ourselves. We’ve got to start somewhere. I think this is a good start.”

Aramark representatives refused to comment after the meetings.

But Aramark spokeswoman Kate Moran said in a phone interview that the meeting was supposed to give Aramark a better understanding of campus concerns.

“We have an obligation to maintain a channel of open communication with employees,” Moran said. “We’ll take appropriate steps as those needs become clear.”

But students and CDS workers were not convinced, adding that workers will not stop until their needs are met. “It’s not over yet,” McKinney said. “You just have to remember you still got to fight.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.