AU Workers Celebrate Landmark Victory

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)In a landmark agreement, American University workers and Bon Appétit Management Company on Monday signed a new union contract that significantly improves working conditions and paves the way for increased worker participation in campus sustainability efforts. “We got everything we asked for,” said Carmen McRae, a member of the worker contract negotiating committee, “We all worked so hard on this, with the help of the students and the community.” Added Dolores Ratcliffe, a fellow negotiating committee member, “I’m especially excited about the training and the paid sick days. I feel like jumping up and down!” In addition to increased wages, improved health care benefits, greater employer contributions into worker pensions, and stronger guarantees of a 40-hour workweek, Local 23 says the new contract will give workers a bigger voice in the university’s sustainability efforts.” Kevin Nelson, another worker leader, said he hopes that the new contract is “only the beginning of the fight for real food and real jobs in DC,” adding that “It’s been a long time coming. Being part of this contract renegotiation will hopefully make all of us more aware of our rights. I’m very satisfied. Hopefully we can use this force and momentum to carry this movement forward.” American University is the first of five DC universities to settle a new contract with UNITE HERE Local 23 workers this year. Across the city, “workers at Gallaudet University, Georgetown University Law School, Howard University, and Trinity Washington University will continue to rally together for real food and real jobs, hoping to follow AU’s lead and add their voices to the creation of a sustainable future on their campuses and beyond,” said Local 23. photo courtesy UNITE HERE Local 23