Following strike and uncertainty, contract settled for CSU cafeteria workers

Press Release for Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Contact: Carly Karmel, 312-933-4045, [email protected]

[Chicago] –On Thursday, April 4, 2013, members of UNITE HERE Local 1 who work at Chicago State University ratified a contract covering 50 cafeteria workers. After uncertainty over the future of food service at the University last winter, this contract represents a significant commitment from university food service provider Thompson Hospitality to provide quality and stable jobs for cafeteria workers.

Last year, dining hall workers unionized joining UNITE HERE Local 1 in an effort to improve wages paid to food service employees at the University. The first union contract for CSU cafeteria workers will raise wages and bring stability to workers. Highlights of the contract settlement include wage increases of $10/hour over three years and sick and vacation pay for all workers. Some CSU cafeteria workers had not received a raise in two years. Additionally, the new contract increases the number of full time employees from six to 18 workers. An overwhelming majority of workers voted to ratify the contract.

“Between the raises and sick pay, I can now take care of my daughter the way I want to be able to,” said Candice Cain, who has worked in the cafeteria for two years.

This past winter, workers held the first strike of university cafeteria workers in Chicago history.

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UNITE HERE Local 1, Chicago’s hospitality workers union, represents over 15,000 hotel and food service workers in Chicago and casino workers in Northwest Indiana.