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Tell UC Davis to bring its workers in, not leave them out in poverty
Tell University of California at Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef: Prioritize partnership with community over a private company. Directly hire contracted out workers and give them a secure union voice.
At the University of California Davis, more than 600 student and career jobs are contracted out to the French multi-national corporation Sodexho. Compared to other workers in the UC system, UC Davis workers earn $2-6/hr less, pay health insurance costs up to 95% more than UC workers, and there is no union or contract. At all the other 9 campuses and 5 medical centers in the UC system, food service work is done by UC workers who have a union and the better wages, benefits and job protections in their strong contracts.
The contracted out cooks, foodservice workers and custodians at University of California Davis along with a growing group of supporters including student government, student groups, faculty, staff, alumni, local, state, and elected officials, and community and religious organizations are demanding direct UC union jobs without delay. But Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and the UC Davis administration are refusing to hear the workers and community demands, and are instead choosing to place a multinational corporation above the partnership with all members of the UC Davis community.
Please send clear message to UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and tell him to join the rest of the UC campuses and the Davis by directly hiring contracted out workers and giving them a secure voice on the job.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: The time for action is now - Prioritize partnership with community over a private company
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I write you today to urge you and your administrators to place the priorities of the community above the school's relationship with a multinational company. The workers and community have repeatedly showed support for the contracted out UC Davis workers in their efforts to gain direct employment with UC Davis and a secure union voice. I am extremely disappointed that you have not made the workers UC Davis employees already.
As you know, the 9 UC campuses and 5 medical centers have found direct employment of UC workers in alignment with the mission and goals of the University of California. I believe you should follow the lead of university community and grant union recognition and direct UC Davis employment to these contracted out workers.
Chancellor Vanderhoef, the contracted out workers want the benefits of union membership so many of UC workers already enjoy. They have spoken. Members of the community have spoke, as well as national, state and local officials. Please do not continue to stand in their way.
I urge you to stand by the principles of community and abide by the highest standards of social responsibility. Actions reveal character, in people and institutions. It is time to act. Respect all members of the community and give these workers direct UC Davis employment.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
May 22, 2007
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At UC Davis, over 600 student and career workers are contracted out to the French multi-national corporation Sodexho. As a result, wages are between $2-6/hr less, workers pay health insurance costs up to 95% than UC workers, and there is no Union or contract. At all the other 9 campuses and 5 medical centers in the UC system, food service work is done by UC workers who have a Union and the better wages, benefits and job protections in their strong contract. In the last few years, workers at UC Santa Cruz and UC Irvine have organized with AFSCME Local 3299 and their communities to win better lives through UC jobs and have left their contracted-out jobs behind.
With the support of student government, various student groups, faculty, staff, city, county, state, and national politicians, and various other community and religious groups, workers are demanding UC jobs without delay.
On May Day, in solidarity with a campaign to make contracted-out food service and custodial workers direct UC employees and give them the benefits all other UC workers have, close to one thousand UC Davis students, teachers, staff, alumni, workers and community supporters took to the streets in the largest march and rally the city has seen in decades. The march culminated in the arrest of 24 representatives of the above groups who participated in an organized civil disobedience, blocking one of Davis' most important traffic intersections for over an hour.
However, Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and the UC Davis administration are refusing to do the right thing and meet the workers' and the community demands of UC jobs. Instead, he refuses to sit down with us and states UCD is happy with the business relationship they currently have with Sodexho and will not be seeking changes.
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