Editor,

It is pertinent that the incoming class and returning students are well informed about the concerns of workers in the dining halls. The Worker Support Committee (WSC) is a five-college student organization dedicated to supporting Aramark workers in their campaign for better working conditions.

Last year 122 food service workers roughly 40%, 221 faculty members roughly 50%, 2,670 students roughly 55% signed petitions calling for better working conditions. There were also joint student, professor, and worker actions aimed at pressuring the presidents to have Aramark sign a neutrality agreement. These actions included delivering letters from workers to the presidents, rallies and protests, and culminated in a student hunger strike. At the end of the year there was an organizing campaign with the union Local 11 (HERE). 133 workers signed a petition demanding a neutrality/card-check agreement that would give validity to union cards signed by workers.

During the summer two students and three workers interned with the union. They received training and worked on forming a strong committee of workers. Worker delegations went to the Scripps treasurer in charge of negotiations with Aramark and to the Pitzer president, who is in charge of the council of presidents.

At the beginning of this year Aramark management organized a general meeting to tell workers that unions are becoming "obsolete", and deliberately exaggerated the costs of union membership. A full time Local 11 union organizer has been assigned to the Claremont Colleges to assist workers in their organizing campaign. WSC has taken the role of educating and mobilizing students, alumni and trustees in support of the workers’ campaign.

Our goals this year are to mobilize students, alumni, parents, trustees in order to build a broad-based movement capable of forcing the college presidents to have Aramark sign a neutrality/card check agreement. This agreement would require Aramark to both end intimidation of workers and to recognize a union if 50%+1 of workers sign union cards. Students have a responsibility to make the presidents ensure fair working conditions at the Claremont College.

Sincerely,

Andrew Flores ’02, WSC Member

Danilo Trisi ’02, WSC Member