Workers take to the street

Tulane on St. Charles Avenue

On Wednesday afternoon, Sodexo workers from Loyola and Tulane took to the street in front of Loyola and Tulane Universities to bring their stories to the public.

The workers, who have been laid off for the summer, jumped at the opportunity to reunite with their co-workers and spread the truth about Sodexo. They held signs stating that Sodexo has been actively discouraging unionization and has violated federal law. They read a litany of charges that workers have filed against Sodexo including the surveillance, interrogation, and firings of workers who vocally support unionization (and those are just the charges here in New Orleans...).

During the rally, countless cars honked in response to a "Honk for Workers' Rights" sign placed on the roadside. Many more offered thumbs up, smiles, and handshakes as they walked along the sidewalk. Demonstrators handed out flyers to passengers on the streetcar as they stopped to let off passengers.

Workers and students spotted two Loyola administrators and a Sodexo manager coming to see demonstration. One administrator snapped a photo, while the manager preferred to sneakily drive by the gathering. The crowd waved hello as he drove by and then began chanting "SHAME ON SODEXO," until he was out of earshot.

Some workers spotted James Carville, a CNN correspondent and Tulane professor, jogging along the sidewalk. Once he turned into Audubon Park, two particularly athletic workers started jogging alongside him as they told their personal stories of Sodexo's deplorable working conditions. He was very receptive and promised to look into the workers' situation on his campus.

The demonstration is just one among a series of actions calling public attention to Sodexo's violations of workers' rights to organize as well as the deplorable treatment of employees that occurs on a daily basis.

Sodexo Job UNfair

Tulane held its annual New Orleans area job fair on Tulane's campus Tuesday. Sodexo workers and students were there to make sure that all prospective employees knew exactly what they were getting themselves into.

Sodexo portrays itself as a model company and uses its prestige to persuade applicants to work for them. Unfortunately, promises of promotion from within and boundless opportunity never materialize and pay never increases from just above minimum wage.

Workers told attendees exactly how much they make, how unafforable their healthcare insurance policies are, and how Sodexo management has actively discouraged unionization by intimidation, harassment, and firing of union leaders. Many prospective employees left after being told about Sodexo's abusive tactics. Many more promised to ask managers hard questions about the unfair labor practices workers have filed against Sodexo.

Sodexo job fair in progress

While handing out flyers, a WGNO news van approached and reporter Chriss Knight walked briskly toward the workers before being run off by Tulane Police. By the time WGNO reached the workers, their story about the job fair had already aired. The campaign got just a brief mention and of course, the Sodexo PR machine made a statement that Sodexo jobs are "good jobs." Watch the newscast here.

President Wildes says he will NEVER meet with Sodexo workers

On Wednesday July 7, fifteen Sodexo workers from Loyola along with their coworkers from Tulane went to Marquette Hall with the goal of meeting with Loyola's President Kevin Wildes, S.J. to address their concerns in their workplace and solicit Wildes' support in their struggle for respect and dignity on the job.

With supportive students in tow, the workers entered the glass waiting area and asked for President Wildes. His administrative assistant appeared instead. One worker spoke up and mentioned the letters they had delivered to Wildes' office in June asking for a meeting - the letters that never elicited a response. Wildes' assistant claimed the letters lacked any contact information to follow up with even though the letters had phone contact information for each worker who wrote a letter.

Just then, Wildes appeared in the lobby area and stood in his office doorway. He yelled to the gathered people:

"Let me make one thing clear: I WILL NEVER MEET WITH THE WORKERS."

Wildes never approached the group. He never introduced himself. He never inquired as to why Sodexo workers were in his office. He immediately launched into an attack on the workers, telling them they need to follow the legal process for forming a union, completely oblivious to the fact that the workers have been complying with the National Labor Relations Act since the day they began considering unionization. Workers have been forming unions by majority sign-up before and after the passing of the NLRA in 1935. Loyola's workers seek access to the same fair and legal process.

To date, President Wildes has never responded to numerous requests from workers to listen to their stories.

This office visit was the first face-to-face interaction many of the workers ever have had with President Wildes. They expressed shock that an ordained priest and president of a Catholic university would treat them with such disdain.

Even without Wildes' support, the workers are continuing their struggle for justice at Loyola and were not deterred.

(Photo by Alan Grunberg)

Summer update...

Currently, the majority of Loyola's Sodexo workers are at home, unemployed, and barely getting by on their savings and state unemployment benefits. Sodexo terminates them at the end of each academic year without letting them know whether or not they'll be rehired in the fall. So this is a rough time in their lives as they grapple with uncertainty and serious financial strain.

Even while dispersed across the city and across the nation, the Sodexo workers are not giving up. They're meeting amongst themselves, staying strong together, and building a plan to win in the Fall. And they need STUDENT SUPPORT during this vulnerable summer time.

If you are in town and reading this blog, get in contact with me [chadpcarson[at]gmail] and I'll plug you in to the summer student movement.