Bon Appetit negotiations underway

By Gina Belmonte

Bon Appetit employees will vote for the renewal of a five-year contract tonight, after modifications were made to an original contract proposed over the summer.

The original contract was rejected Aug. 1 in a vote by employees who said they wished to renegotiate wage and pension increases along with health benefits.

A meeting was held earlier this week among workers to discuss the modified contract that is up for ratification tonight.

Because employees at this meeting feared management becoming aware that they were relaying their concerns to media, they asked that their names not be used in this article.

Amendments made to the original contract include a 50 cent increase in wages over the next five years, as well as an annual increase in pension that amounts to an average of 64 cents, stated a steward at the meeting.

A steward is an employee who voices fellow employees' concerns to a union representative.

Employees present at the meeting said they were also concerned about the health plan proposal.

The new health proposal provides full coverage of medical expenses for employees that are the only subscribers to the plan.

For those with families, one $200 card per employee will be included to cover expenses each year.

Employees are expected to cover any costs surpassing the $200 with no reimbursement, stated the steward.

"$200 is not enough, each visit is a $20 co-payment and it's $10 a prescription," said a female worker. "That's supposed to last us a year? I've got kids. It's a very small amount."

Both Lori Flashner, general manager of dining services, and a representative from the union refused to comment because of an agreement made between the union and Bon Appetit.

They agreed not to talk to the media about the contract until after it has been ratified by the employees.

At the meeting, employees shared feelings of disappointment with the union representative, who they feel is not properly addressing employee concerns.

"It seems like the union guy is working for the management company," said an employee.

Bon Appetit is owned by a larger food service company called Compass Group, which has allowed its workers to unionize with the Service Employees International Union.

Concerns and issues are voiced by the stewards, who then report to the union representative.

Employees have turned to students in the Labor Action Committee -- a club under the empowerment division of SCCAP that works with employees for labor rights -- for help in voicing concerns, said Beth Tellman, student director of LAC.

LAC has assisted with translatins, explaining terms and doing research on labor rights.

They also help with living wage guidelines and policies.

Contact Gina Belmonte at (408) 554-4546 or gbelmonte@scu.edu.