More Go On Strike Against Sodexo

by Taylor Leake · 2011-02-18 10:19:00 UTC
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The latest battleground in the longrunning strike versus food service giant Sodexo is the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM).

Workers there recently went on strike and were joined by students, community activists, and union members. They join workers at institutions like Morehouse College, Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, Ohio State University, Ohio's Crew Stadium, Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest and Good Shepherd Hospital who have had enough.

They're sick of poverty wages, inadequate health benefits and, perhaps most importantly, Sodexo's treatment of those trying to form a union. While Sodexo claims that they will respect the rights of their workers to bargain collectively, the company frequently silences, interrogates and threatens those who try to form unions.

That's exactly what happened at PCOM, but food service workers there are standing up and fighting back!

"I'm a father of four kids, ages twelve, ten, six, and one," said Stephen Duncan, one of the striking workers, "I can't afford to provide for them. I struggle just to pay my basic bills every week."

While Sodexo rakes in huge profits, they pay many of their workers 25 cents over minimum wage, just $7.50 an hour or $15,000 a year for a full time worker. Combine that with inadequate and often expensive health coverage, and its no wonder workers are out on strike.

The strike, and the larger campaign to get Sodexo to respect its workers and provide good jobs that support families, was started by the Service Employees International (SEIU).

"Sodexo's top executives are raking in millions while workers in our communities can't provide for their families," says Wayne MacManiman,  Mid-Atlantic District Director with 32B SEIU. "Sodexo is using its immense resources to intimidate workers to keep from having good jobs with decent pay."

Sodexo needs to change its ways, and you can help get them to do just that. Check out the Clean Up Sodexo website for even more information on the company and its workers. Then sign our petition urging Sodexo to respect its workers, pay them a decent wage, offer quality affordable health coverage and allow them to organize a union.

Photo Credit: SEIU Local 1

Taylor Leake has advocated for workers' rights for years, from running his college chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops to working for the Wake Up Walmart campaign.

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