Philadelphia, PA – On September 26, the Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression members joined the UNITE HERE Local 274 picket line as Philadelphia stadium workers struggled for healthcare and a living wage.

The strikes were a culmination of negotiations which began in January of this year. Despite Aramark making over $18 billion in revenue last year, workers are still getting the shaft. At $14.11 an hour, the wages that Aramark food service employees earn are among the lowest in comparison to concession workers in other parts of the country.

Even though many UNITE HERE members are working 40 hours a week or more, none of them are receiving full time benefits including health insurance. The benefits and pay are so insufficient that workers are forced to moonlight to provide for their families. UNITE HERE 274 overwhelmingly rejected a July proposal from Aramark for a small wage increase, calling it a “slap in the face.” With no further progress after that proposal, Aramark workers from all three stadiums voted to strike.

Briheem Douglas, a leader with UNITE HERE, told the picket line, “What we are doing now for the first time is striking all three stadiums for a big raise that we deserve. Aramark thinks we can’t do it. But what has history shown us? We can stick together, we can do it!” The line cheered and chanted, “Can we do it? Yes we can! Beat Aramark? Yes we can!”

The September strike was preceded by several other strikes, and a protest on June 12 near Aramark headquarters in the Center City neighborhood. Police arrested picketers who spoke out against the low wages and lack of benefits. Among the protesters arrested was Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval.

Aramark stadium workers struck at all three Philadelphia stadiums for five days. The Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression members joined the picket line and passed out flyers asking football game attendees to support the boycott of concessions and merchandise at the stadiums called by UNITE HERE.

In a statement condemning police repression and supporting the Aramark workers’ campaign for a dignified life, the Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (PAARPR) stressed a win for UNITE HERE against Aramark would be a win against police repression.

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #Labor #Strike #UNITEHERE #Aramark #NAARPR

Aramark is known in La Crosse for its sweatshop conditions: low wages, unsafe working conditions, a high rate of production resulting in unnecessary injuries, and management that treats its workforce as less than human. Aramark also played its diverse workforce against itself, targeting the Hmong women who make up a significant portion of the workforce for harassment.

From the beginning of the campaign, local leadership knew they needed a united shop to succeed. The first event they organized was a potluck and discussion of demands at the Hmong Community Center in La Crosse, with translation provided for anyone that did not speak English well. From then on, the local leadership made sure their shop floor leadership reflected the diverse membership, and this was the lynchpin holding members together for the fight ahead.

Workers maintained their demands from day one: a significant wage increase, paid sick days, and no more tiers. Management wanted something different: a small wage increase, more expensive health insurance, and a third wage tier. They played the same old tactics, dragging negotiations that should last a few weeks on for months with the hope of denying union members the ability to build momentum. The UE responded that if management would drag negotiations on, that would be fine, but they would not sign any more contract extensions. Management accepted, and so started a two-month period of open shop floor struggle to have the demands met. The members stopped working to march on the boss and deliver a petition, threatened a mass demonstration at a corporate event leading to its cancellation, and organized countless t-shirt days and sticker days.

The culmination of this fight was the July 31 walkout. At 12 p.m., when both shifts were in the facility, 100% of the union workforce stopped working, punched out, and marched out of the building. After a bilingual rally calling on the workers to stand together and do whatever it takes to win, the workers marched around the building, behind a banner saying “Aramark: 21st century sweatshop.” Workers chanted, “Who are we? UE!” and “No contract? No peace!” When the march ended, the workers went back to work with their heads held high, for there was no denying that it was they who controlled the work place now, it was not the boss.

Two days later, when negotiations restarted, management backed off of their demands. They dropped their demand for a third tier, agreed to the wage demand, and even reached a compromise on health insurance. The bargaining committee walked away knowing that they could without hesitation recommend a yes vote. Their struggle had won everything they had demanded and then some.

“The employer gives you nothing,” said negotiating committee member Todd Weis. “Only when you stand united with your brothers and sisters, staying strong, can you get over that mountain.”

#LaCrosseWI #PeoplesStruggles #Aramark #Wisconsin

La Crosse, WI – 75 workers at Aramark Laundry Services staged a walkout during peak work hours on July 31. Members of United Electrical Workers (UE) Local 1121, the workers have been in contract negotiations for several months and have been stonewalled by management.

While the workers have taken bold steps in that time frame, including lunchtime rallies and a march on the boss to deliver a petition, this is their first shutdown of production for a prolonged period. Workers are demanding higher wages, paid sick days and no new wage tiers.

The rally was led by the local’s bargaining committee, along with supporters from nearby UE Locals and regional leadership. The rally was followed by a loud and energetic march around the property, with chants of “Who are we? UE!” and “No contract? No peace!”

Aramark’s industrial laundries are notorious for their low wages and unsafe working conditions. Many workers complained about work areas with temperatures reaching above 100 degrees during the hot summer months. Despite these brutal conditions, Aramark is a multi-billion multinational corporation, with their La Crosse facility servicing some of the most profitable companies in Wisconsin.

“We work for a 21st century sweat shop,” said Local 1121 leader Charlene Winchell. “Aramark is richer now than they have ever been. They are making billions of dollars with all of our hard work. We deserve a slice of the pie.”

When local president Jay Jamesson asked the rallying workers if they were willing to strike to meet their demands, a wave of hands shot up across the crowd. Negotiations are expected to continue this week.

#LaCrosseWI #UnitedElectricalWorkers #Aramark #Strikes

A group of about 150 people, including farmworkers from Immokalee, Florida, students and community supporters, rallied on Oct. 24 to fight for better wages and working conditions for the farmworkers. Members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) traveled to Gainesville to build their ongoing campaigns against Aramark, a major food service provider on many college campuses, and Publix, a popular supermarket chain in the South.

Workers are asking for Aramark and Publix to sit down and promise safer and more humane working conditions in the fields and for the two corporations to meet the workers’ demand for “a penny more per pound” of tomatoes picked. Currently, a farmworker in Immokalee must pick two tons of tomatoes a day to make $50.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is an organization comprised mostly of Latino, indigenous and Haitian immigrants fighting for an end to the illegal practices and unjust working conditions present on commercial farms in Immokalee.

Since 1997 the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has exposed, filed charges against and convicted seven in cases of slavery involving over 1000 farmworkers. The rich bosses held workers against their will at night in large trucks and would beat or sometimes even whip workers who protested, until the workers organized and fought back.

The Oct. 24 protest came after workers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, members of the Student Farmworker Alliance and allies from Students for a Democratic Society arranged a series of talks during classes the previous week. The experience of meeting and hearing from oppressed and exploited farmworkers inspired many students to march in solidarity with the farmworkers during the protest, chanting “No more slaves! Pay a living wage!” in front of the campus Aramark office and a local Publix supermarket.

So far the Coalition of Immokalee Workers is winning its fight for “a penny more per pound” from major corporations including McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Whole Foods, Compass Foods, Yum! Brands and Subway. With the combined efforts of student activists and community supporters led by the workers themselves, it is very likely Publix and Aramark will soon have to accept the demands of the farmworkers. As Coalition member Oscar Otzoy said, “Our unity brings strength, and strength brings change.”

#GainesvilleFL #StudentMovement #ChicanoLatino #CoalitionOfImmokaleeWorkers #Publix #Aramark