University officials presented their new contract proposal to Brown Dining Services workers for the first time Wednesday, outlining two main objectives.
The University's proposal includes raising the cost of health care premiums for full-time employees and exploring the possibility of extending the hours of assistant food service workers - who work 27 hours a week or less - so they can qualify for benefits, according to Roxana Rivera, director of Service Employees International Union Local 615 and chief negotiator for the union, which represents Dining Services workers.
Wednesday's meeting was the third negotiation session regarding the contract for Dining Services workers. Both sides must come to an agreement on a three-year contract before Oct. 12, when the current contract expires, Rivera said.
Talks took place between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Pembroke Field House, where they will continue to be held for the remainder of negotiations.
Last Thursday, the union presented its proposal, asking for a 7-percent increase in wages. The proposal also asked that all food service workers be made eligible for benefits and that the University prohibit subcontracting, Rivera said. Currently, assistant food service workers, banquet captains and Faculty Club workers are ineligible for benefits. Assistant food service workers were unionized during negotiations last spring.
A group of union members reiterated their stance Tuesday afternoon when they delivered a letter and petition signed by Dining Services workers and Ward 1 City Councilman David Segal to President Ruth Simmons detailing "their vision of what must be done to create good jobs at Brown," Rivera said.
Rivera said she was flanked by 11 union members representing all classifications of Dining Services workers, from dish room workers to cooks. The University's delegation includes Director of Dining Services Gretchen Willis, Assistant Director of Dining Services Claire Sidla, Executive Chef for Dining Services John O'Shea and Joseph Sarno, director of labor relations and chief negotiator for the University.
"The parties concluded their third negotiation session this afternoon in talks that were productive and professional," said Michael Chapman, vice president for public affairs and University relations. "Although it is very early in the process, we are confident that we will be able to work together with the union in the weeks ahead to reach a fair agreement with our valued Dining Service union employees."
Many members of the union, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the University's proposal, Rivera said.
"We believe (the University) didn't give any concrete proposals," she said.
Despite this, Rabbit Hoffinger, a first cook at the Verney-Woolley Dining Hall and a union steward, told The Herald he continues to feel optimistic about the progress of negotiations. "Their proposals were very vague, but just conversing about getting (assistant food service workers) health care makes me happy," Hoffinger said.
During negotiations, Segal and about 10 students representing an array of organizations presented a petition signed by over 400 students in support of the union's proposal, according to Sarah Adler-Milstein '07.5, a member of the Student Labor Alliance.
"We as a Brown community believe that no one who is part of the Brown community - be it staff, students or faculty - should have to make the choice between going to the doctor and putting food on the table," Adler-Milstein said. "We're not asking for millions of dollars in raises. We're asking for really basic stuff. My concern is that the administration seems not to be truly concerned."
The University was expected to present a proposal during the second negotiation session on Sept. 18, but both sides arrived to find that chairs and tables had not been set up and the University had no proposal, according to Rivera. After 30 minutes, the union's representatives decided to cut the talks short, she said.
"We were handled with disregard and a lack of respect," said Christina Smith, a dining services first baker and member of the union bargaining unit. "We were prepared. We did our homework. We diligently went at it for months on end, all of it on our own time, and we promised the entire bargaining unit that we'd go in and give it our best, and the University is unprepared."
Negotiations will resume Sept. 26 and are expected to continue through the next two weeks, Rivera said.
