Food Service Worker Rally Celebrates Howard Contract Win

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Last night's Unite Here 23 rally turned into a victory celebration when it was announced that food service workers at Howard had just won a new tentative contract. Hundreds of cheering Local 23 members -- along with student and community allies -- rallied at the African-American Civil War Memorial "to make our own history" as one speaker proclaimed to chants of "Real food, real jobs!" Unite Here 23 Executive Director Emilio Abate told Union City that the tentative Howard contract is "the best we've ever gotten there" and includes new "sustainability language connecting quality food with skilled jobs and student and worker input; this is a real breakthrough" as the local moves forward on negotiations at other area schools. Food service workers from AU, Howard and Gallaudet were joined on stage by supporters including Metro Council President Jos Williams, Nicki Lewis of Restaurant Opportunities Center and Rev. Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational Church. Hagler explicitly linked  substandard food and jobs to the corporate drive for profits, thundering that "corporations want to turn, not just food but even people into commodities!" Williams applauded the crowd of food service workers, saying that "This is what democracy looks like," thanking them "because you are on the right side of history, and your fight for dignity is a fight for us all." With that, the workers lifted their signs and banners and marched south on 14th Street, their chants rising as darkness fell. - report/photos by Chris Garlock