The workers are employed by the investment bank's food-services contractor, Restaurant Associates, which has a long history of fighting unionization campaigns. After a year-and-a-half-long battle with Local 100 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE), this contractor finally signed an accord to allow workers to form a union as soon as a majority of them sign cards saying they want to unionize.

"This is the best news that we have received this year," said Julio Morel, who earns $9.30 an hour after working for three and a half years as a food preparation worker and server at Goldman Sachs. "I need a union because I need respect on the job, and I need better benefits for me and my family." Morel, who has three young children, said he could not afford to pay the $3,100 in annual premiums for family health insurance under the Restaurant Associates plan.

The workers and their supporters have been holding demonstrations, vigils, and distributing leaflets up and down Wall Street publicizing the fact that they are paid too little to be able to afford health insurance while Goldman Sachs makes millions for its customers.

One union leaflet pointed out that the investment firm had received millions of dollars in tax incentives from New York City and Jersey City. It said, "Why is a billion-dollar company receiving government assistance while food-service workers earn poverty-level wages without affordable family health-care coverage?"

According to union officials, in April 1999 when the organizing drive began, 76 out of 115 cafeteria workers then employed at Goldman Sachs signed cards saying they wanted to be represented by a union.

Some 95 food workers at the Metropolitan Opera, who are under contact by Restaurant Associates, are also involved in a protracted fight for union recognition.  
 
 
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