Latest news with #SarahLyons
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Northwestern dining hall staff back at work after strike, but no agreement reached
As classes at Northwestern University resume after spring break this week, striking dining hall workers are back on the job — even though their union, Unite Here Local 1, says it has not yet settled a contract with their employer, the British food service giant Compass Group. Dining hall workers first walked out on strike March 10. A collective bargaining agreement for the approximately 500 campus cooks, cashiers, baristas, dishwashers and catering workers expired in the summer, and Unite Here said it had reached an impasse on a new agreement after months of bargaining with Compass. Workers were striking for 'family-sustaining wages and increased pension contributions,' the union said at the time. Because no agreement has been reached, dining staff could walk out on strike again at any time, said Unite Here Local 1 spokesperson Sarah Lyons. Workers would not need to take another strike authorization vote to walk out again, she said. The strike initially shut down some campus dining halls, though others remained open. All dining halls were open Tuesday, the first day of spring semester classes at Northwestern, according to the university's website. Lyons said the union and Compass had met for bargaining last week but had not reached an agreement. Neither Compass nor Northwestern responded to requests for comment. When the strike began, Compass said it was 'disappointed' in the decision to strike, saying the union had not allowed workers to vote on its latest offer, which it said had included immediate raises of $3 per hour for all dining workers, additional raises over the course of the contract and an 80% increase in pension contributions.
Chicago Tribune
01-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Northwestern dining hall staff back at work after strike, but no agreement reached
As classes at Northwestern University resume after spring break this week, striking dining hall workers are back on the job — even though their union, Unite Here Local 1, says it has not yet settled a contract with their employer, the British food service giant Compass Group. Dining hall workers first walked out on strike March 10. A collective bargaining agreement for the approximately 500 campus cooks, cashiers, baristas, dishwashers and catering workers expired in the summer, and Unite Here said it had reached an impasse on a new agreement after months of bargaining with Compass. Workers were striking for 'family-sustaining wages and increased pension contributions,' the union said at the time. Because no agreement has been reached, dining staff could walk out on strike again at any time, said Unite Here Local 1 spokesperson Sarah Lyons. Workers would not need to take another strike authorization vote to walk out again, she said. The strike initially shut down some campus dining halls, though others remained open. All dining halls were open Tuesday, the first day of spring semester classes at Northwestern, according to the university's website. Lyons said the union and Compass had met for bargaining last week but had not reached an agreement. Neither Compass nor Northwestern responded to requests for comment. When the strike began, Compass said it was 'disappointed' in the decision to strike, saying the union had not allowed workers to vote on its latest offer, which it said had included immediate raises of $3 per hour for all dining workers, additional raises over the course of the contract and an 80% increase in pension contributions.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Northwestern dining hall workers go on strike
Hundreds of dining hall workers at Northwestern University walked off the job Monday morning as their union said it has reached an impasse with their employer after nine months of contract bargaining. The workers, who are employed by British food service giant Compass Group, are represented by hospitality union Unite Here Local 1. A union contract for the approximately 500 cooks, cashiers, baristas, dishwashers and catering workers expired this summer, and union members voted to authorize a strike at the end of February. In a news release, Unite Here said the workers are 'fighting for a fair contract with family-sustaining wages and increased pension contributions.' Compass, in turn, said it was 'disappointed' by the decision to strike, saying the union had not allowed workers to vote on its most recent contract proposal. On Monday morning, the strike had shut down some campus dining halls and food retail locations, while others remained open, according to the university's website. 'Thank you for your patience as we adjust our operations. We are focused on reopening locations as soon as we are able to do so,' Northwestern said in an FAQ posted online. In a statement to the Tribune, a spokesperson for Compass said its most recent offer to the union included immediate raises of $3 per hour for all dining workers, additional raises over the course of the contract and an 80% increase in pension contributions. 'While we respect our employees' right to voice their opinions, we are disappointed by the Union's decision to strike, as we believe our employees overwhelmingly support reaching an agreement now,' Compass said, adding that it was keeping dining locations on campus 'running as close to schedule as possible.' Union spokesperson Sarah Lyons did not contest Compass's characterization of its contract proposal. 'Workers are in the streets because it's not sufficient,' Lyons said. Unite Here noted Monday that Compass had reported $42 billion in revenue in the last fiscal year. Veronica Reyes, a dining hall cashier who said she has worked at Northwestern for 15 years, said she didn't think she could retire on her current pension plan. 'Life is so expensive,' she said. 'Everything is impossible.' Reyes described Northwestern students as 'family.' 'We don't want them to suffer for the closure of the dining halls,' she said. 'But we don't have another way to fight with the company for a better life for all of us.' In a statement, Northwestern said the university hopes for 'a swift and equitable resolution' to the contract negotiations.
Chicago Tribune
10-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Northwestern dining hall workers go on strike
Hundreds of dining hall workers at Northwestern University walked off the job Monday morning as their union said it has reached an impasse with their employer after nine months of contract bargaining. The workers, who are employed by British food service giant Compass Group, are represented by hospitality union Unite Here Local 1. A union contract for the approximately 500 cooks, cashiers, baristas, dishwashers and catering workers expired this summer, and union members voted to authorize a strike at the end of February. In a news release, Unite Here said the workers are 'fighting for a fair contract with family-sustaining wages and increased pension contributions.' Compass, in turn, said it was 'disappointed' by the decision to strike, saying the union had not allowed workers to vote on its most recent contract proposal. On Monday morning, the strike had shut down some campus dining halls and food retail locations, while others remained open, according to the university's website. 'Thank you for your patience as we adjust our operations. We are focused on reopening locations as soon as we are able to do so,' Northwestern said in an FAQ posted online. In a statement to the Tribune, a spokesperson for Compass said its most recent offer to the union included immediate raises of $3 per hour for all dining workers, additional raises over the course of the contract and an 80% increase in pension contributions. 'While we respect our employees' right to voice their opinions, we are disappointed by the Union's decision to strike, as we believe our employees overwhelmingly support reaching an agreement now,' Compass said, adding that it was keeping dining locations on campus 'running as close to schedule as possible.' Union spokesperson Sarah Lyons did not contest Compass's characterization of its contract proposal. 'Workers are in the streets because it's not sufficient,' Lyons said. Unite Here noted Monday that Compass had reported $42 billion in revenue in the last fiscal year. Veronica Reyes, a dining hall cashier who said she has worked at Northwestern for 15 years, said she didn't think she could retire on her current pension plan. 'Life is so expensive,' she said. 'Everything is impossible.' Reyes described Northwestern students as 'family.' 'We don't want them to suffer for the closure of the dining halls,' she said. 'But we don't have another way to fight with the company for a better life for all of us.' In a statement, Northwestern said the university hopes for 'a swift and equitable resolution' to the contract negotiations.
