Victory for Howard Dining Workers as Real Food Real Jobs Movement Picks up Steam

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Spurring on the DC food service workers’ fight for greater access to fresh, healthy food and good, sustainable jobs using fresh-cooked ingredients, Howard University workers employed by Sodexo celebrated another victory of DC’s Real Food Real Jobs movement earlier this week. Following on the heels of a 400-person rally on U Street last week, workers at Howard University overwhelmingly approved a new contract with food service provider Sodexo on Wednesday (Food Service Worker Rally Celebrates Howard Contract Win 3/1 UC). “I am so excited by this agreement! I love real food, and I love these students,” said committee member Dorothy Samuels. “I tell everyone to eat healthy food, and now I have a way of sharing my ideas and experience with real cooking!” Jermaine Gaither, another member of the committee who has worked in Howard’s cafeteria for many years, explained that “this contract gives us even better ways of building our skills to make really good food for students here.” Workers at Georgetown University Law School, George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Trinity Washington University hope to continue the precedent established at American, Gallaudet and Howard, bringing good food jobs and healthy food to DC for everyone. 
- Amelia Kalant, UNITE HERE Senior Research Analyst