Loyola and ethical business

These past few months have been, for me, a learning experience. I have learned that behind the face of the person that serves me food, there is a story — one which up until very recently had been neglected.

The Sodexo workers — that is, the Dining Services workers who work day and night in the OR, Flambeaux’s and the C-Store —are going through much more than perhaps can be perceived. To me, it seems they are being treated unjustly by Sodexo management.

I think that not only are they being paid unjustly, with unfair pension plans, healthcare and unfair hiring practices, but they are also subject to intimidation and harassment during their working hours.

Why do I think they are being intimidated? The answer is simple; the workers are forming a union to protect their rights. And even though it is their legal right to do so, it seems Sodexo is doing everything within legal limits to “dissuade” the workers from forming a union.

In doing this, Sodexo is not only ignoring the laws of the United States, but also principles of Catholic social teaching. The pastoral letter “Economic Justice For All,” by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops clearly states: “The (Catholic) Church fully supports the rights of workers to form unions … to secure their rights to fair wages and working conditions.”

How is this “dissuasion” taking place? Two weeks ago, Sodexo management screened a video to the workers presenting a “sketch” in which the characters were expressing anti-union sentiments. This is obviously decorated coercion. It is this kind of subtle tactic that makes it important for students to take a stand with the Sodexo workers.

And they have.

The SGA has passed a resolution in which they explicitly state that they, as a student body, support the rights of the workers to form a union. If I recall the meeting correctly, the resolution was passed with a unanimous vote.

Moreover, over the past week students from all over campus have been signing petitions stating that they “support the right of the Sodexo employees to form a union,” and that they “demand that that Sodexo and the University not infringe upon the workers’ right to form a union.”

As of Feb. 7, 2010, we have more than 450 signatures.

The workers have taken a stand, and the students have voiced their support. As César Chávez said once (I read this in a ‘dp’s daily’ newsletter): “once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.”

Now we must insure that these conditions are met. We, together, must stand for social change. Because that’s what Loyola University is all about.

Or is it?



Rolando Lopez can be reached at ralopez@loyno.edu




 

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9 comments

Anonymous

Mon Mar 1 2010 18:11

Chad

You don't address the issue(s). Instead, you tear down what others are expressing. That's a cheap shot, and a lot easier than addressing the issues directly. My response to the article had nothing to do with you. But you chose to address my opinion rather than article.

Does that make you feel better about yourself? Are you compensating for something?

Man up, partner. Don't worry about little DarlaK.

Chad Carson

Mon Mar 1 2010 17:38

DarlaK:

I honestly have no idea where your rage is coming from.

I thought that my post went through each of your arguments quite matter-of-fact-ly. With the exception of poking fun at the use of the Chavez quotation, I've been nothing but cordial. Why so angry? And why the continued use of a pseudonym?

Anonymous

Mon Mar 1 2010 17:14

Speaking of pompous, I love how Chad assumes that the only jobs the Sodexo employees would look for are more food service jobs, as though that's all they are capable of doing.

DarlaK

Mon Mar 1 2010 16:07

yeah Chad, stopp being a $+Upi|) @$$\/\/|-|0|_E LOL helping the food servcie ppl is so gay

DarlaK

Mon Mar 1 2010 14:31

Chad

Can you be any more of a biased - pompous - a$$?

I think people are finally starting to get a lock on who you really are.

Anonymous

Fri Feb 26 2010 00:18

I'm pretty sure that, like the rest of the world, Sodexo would be unable to care less about Catholic social teaching if it tried.

Chad Carson

Fri Feb 19 2010 13:49

DarlaK:

You are correct that Sodexo employees are offered a healthcare plan. In fact, they are offered the same healthcare plan available to Sodexo management. At the same cost. That is to say that the healthcare plan they are offered is unaffordable to most of the workers.

Sodexo workers have access to a 401(k) plan, but does Sodexo match the workers' contributions? Unlikely. Without matching, a 401(k) is hardly more of an asset than a Roth IRA or any other investment account. How useful is an investment account when the workers aren't paid enough to have surplus money to invest? Not useful at all.

Voting with their feet by quitting isn't a viable option because Sodexo's labor practices are commonplace across the food service industry. Yes, the workers could quit, but what would their new job be? It will likely be the same. What you are describing is the race to the bottom where employers offer poorer and poorer wages with the understanding that there are people who are in SUCH poor conditions that they will jump at the chance to take a job that is inadequate and exploitative. Sodexo is engaging in corporate behavior that preys upon the fact that these workers and people of similar economic standing need a job and therefor Sodexo can pay them whatever they want.

Also, what is the purpose of using that Chavez quotation? For all you know, he could have been talking about the contents of his fridge. Misusing a Chavez quote doesn't lend credibility to your neo-con POV.

Chad Carson

Fri Feb 19 2010 13:49

DarlaK:

You are correct that Sodexo employees are offered a healthcare plan. In fact, they are offered the same healthcare plan available to Sodexo management. At the same cost. That is to say that the healthcare plan they are offered is unaffordable to most of the workers.

Sodexo workers have access to a 401(k) plan, but does Sodexo match the workers' contributions? Unlikely. Without matching, a 401(k) is hardly more of an asset than a Roth IRA or any other investment account. How useful is an investment account when the workers aren't paid enough to have surplus money to invest? Not useful at all.

Voting with their feet by quitting isn't a viable option because Sodexo's labor practices are commonplace across the food service industry. Yes, the workers could quit, but what would their new job be? It will likely be the same. What you are describing is the race to the bottom where employers offer poorer and poorer wages with the understanding that there are people who are in SUCH poor conditions that they will jump at the chance to take a job that is inadequate and exploitative. Sodexo is engaging in corporate behavior that preys upon the fact that these workers and people of similar economic standing need a job and therefor Sodexo can pay them whatever they want.

Also, what is the purpose of using that Chavez quotation? For all you know, he could have been talking about the contents of his fridge. Misusing a Chavez quote doesn't lend credibility to your neo-con POV.

DarlaK

Thu Feb 11 2010 16:56

Well written article, Rolando. But I could not disagree with you more, or, as César Chávez also said, "There's nothing good in there." Unions are not the answer to every worker complaint. The Sodexo workers are offered a competitive salary, health care and pension plans. The simplest vote they can take is with their feet. If they don't like the company they work for - leave! There are crowds of unemployed workers who would gladly fill their shoes.

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