Bon Appetit employees protest worker treatment

By Patricia Ho and Nate Seltenrich

More than 30 students, workers and union representatives held a rally outside Benson Memorial Center Wednesday afternoon to protest the treatment of Bon Appetit employees.

The rally called attention to the terminations of longtime Bon Appetit employees Connie Leonard and Adelina Rodriguez. Both were on approved medical leave since November and June, respectively, after having surgery when they received their letters of termination.

The union representatives and student supporters also discussed what they call "unfair labor practice committed by Bon Appetit Management Company and Santa Clara University Facilities Department," in addition to "unfair treatment towards female employees" and "discrimination towards Hispanic employees and their families," according to a flier distributed the day before the rally.

Thomas English, a 10-year food service employee at Santa Clara and lead union steward, spoke at the rally. He is currently contending a letter of suspension he received from Bon Appetit on April 11.

"Because I voiced my opinion, I was terminated," he said. "I think it's totally unjust and unfair the way they're treating people here. I thought this was an equal opportunities place, not just for the managers."

English allegedly was suspended after making a request for a 15-minute break.

Following English's brief two-minute speech, rally MC and sophomore sociology and political science major Stephanie Camoroda started up another call: "Bon Appetit, do what's right or we will bring the truth to light."

A petition to support Leonard and Rodriguez was also passed around, garnering more than 75 signatures.

The rally was spearheaded by members of Santa Clara's Labor Action Committee, which is a division of SCCAP, the SEIU Local 715 union, which represents these workers and was supported by MEChA El Frente, a Latino student organization. Another rally is scheduled for Thursday at noon in the plaza outside Benson and in front of the fountain.

According to union worksite organizer Leah Berlanga, official grievances have been filed for Leonard, Rodriguez and English. The union also has plans to file a complaint with the State Labor Department.

"The most important thing we've already done - we've filed our grievances because then we give these employees their day in court," said Berlang. "[The workers] followed the letter of the contract. I'm just surprised that management didn't even try to talk to them or give them a heads up."

Casey Enarson, Bon Appetit's Resident District Manager, has a different view on worker-management relations.

"From day one when they came in here I told them that I want to look at this like a big family," he said. "In a family everybody doesn't always agree, but they work out their differences and work towards the same goal."

He does admit that there have been issues, and said that there were problems with "people that were sneaking food out of the kitchen and not paying for it."

Enarson declined to comment on the terminations of Leonard and Rodriguez, saying "That's between us and the union. I'm not prepared to discuss it."

Regarding worker complaints and unfair treatment concerns, Enarson said, "There are some people that are unhappy, I know, they're just naturally unhappy. The majority of the people here are happy but there are some people that will look for problems everyday."

However, he also added, "They let us know they're not happy, we talk about it, if they're not happy with our response, they file a grievance and we respond to their grievance and there's the process. Everything should be followed according to that process."

So far, the union has followed that process, so perhaps there is hope that the situation will be dealt with efficiently.

Berlanga, who was a union steward for 10 years before becoming a worksite organizer, is optimistic: "I haven't dealt with them [Bon Appetit] that long, but based on past information, they've worked with the union."

Bon Appetit was hired to be Santa Clara's food service provider three years ago. According to Pat Wilkinson, who oversees campus dining contracts in the University Finance Office, Bon Appetit was chosen unanimously by a committee of faculty, staff and students based on "the ability of the firm to deliver a top-notch food service program." She said that there would have to be "a compelling reason" to re-bid for the position, which is a costly and time-consuming process. The previous provider, Aramark, lost the bid because it failed to resolve issues with its catering department.

Labor Action Committee member Evan Hughes expects an even better turnout at Thursday's rally when more students find out about the cause they are supporting.

"These are members of our community and if any member of our community is being treated unfairly, unjustly, then people need to respond," said Hughes. "They are just as important to the day-to-day functions of this university as any student. We need to help them have a voice in the community when they otherwise wouldn't have one."

Yessica Islas, a member of MEChA, agrees. "As Latino students we have to be out there and supporting the workers. We might have uncles or relatives that do the same kind of job. If we don't support them, then what does that say about Latino students?"

A worker's appreciation dinner will take place on Friday, April 25 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. in the Sobrato Commons.