Vol. 73/No. 40      October 19, 2009

More than 100 people joined the action, including students from Sarah Lawrence College, where cafeteria workers are currently being denied union recognition by AVI.

The action was called by UNITE HERE Local 100, which represents the more than 20 food-service workers at Hunter College.

The company threatened to fire any worker who walked off the job to join the rally, said Jonathan Villanueva, a cashier who watched the rally from the register. “In the beginning, they said nothing would change, but they haven’t honored anything,” he said.

Debbie Johnson, who has worked at the college for 10 years, is a member of the contract negotiating committee. AVI wanted to start all the workers at minimum wage, but quickly backed down. The company is now offering 401(k) plans instead of pensions. “We don’t want 401(k)’s. We want pensions,” Johnson said. She told the rally, “They’re not going to come and wreck everything we worked so hard for.”

Lisa Cooper, a 24-year veteran of the job, told how AVI was bringing in new hires in every department in preparation for workers going on strike. “We don’t care. We’re not scared. We’re going to fight,” she said.

Paula Woodfine, a food preparer who has worked at the college for 22 years, said AVI wants them to work three times as fast for less pay and no health care. Food worker Joey Esposito explained that he needed dental insurance. “AVI should go back to Ohio,” he said, where the company is based.

A large percentage of those present were students and faculty from Hunter. Sophomore Erica Suarez said that this was the first protest she had been to. She was upset that the cafeteria workers were not getting health benefits.

Mike Filippou, former striker from the Stella D’oro cookie factory in the Bronx, also joined the action. “Workers need to stick together,” he said.
 
 
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