Workers United and Bay Area Aramark Workers Win Labor Board Victory

Hundreds of Workers in Oakland, Hayward and San Jose Begin Negotiating Long-Delayed Contract

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Labor Relations Board found merit in charges that Aramark, a multi-billion dollar professional services provider, unlawfully refused to bargain with 220 members of Workers United, Western States Regional Joint Board, Local 3 at three Bay Area industrial laundries. The board has accepted a settlement that requires the company to negotiate with workers, grant union representatives access to its laundries and pay the union months of escrowed union dues. Company officials have begun negotiations with a bargaining committee elected by workers and union leadership this week.

"With the economy being so bad, we need the security of a strong union contract to make ends meet and to make sure we have health insurance for our families," said Nelida Rincon, a 20-year employee and first shift shop steward for Local 3. "We work hard to make Aramark successful. We deserve more than delays."

The largely Latino and Chinese immigrant workforce at the Hayward, San Jose and Oakland facilities are pushing for better wages, benefits and safer working conditions. Workers' contract expired July 31, but the company has been escrowing union dues and denying workers' union representation since April.

The company used interference by UNITE HERE, a union that represents mostly hotel and food service workers, as an excuse to delay bargaining with Workers United. In an attempt to steal members from Local 3, UNITE HERE's International President John Wilhelm has sent several letters to Aramark management demanding that they cease negotiations with Workers United and send dues money to his union. UNITE HERE staff have repeatedly visited Local 3 members at their homes and at their jobs. Local UNITE HERE officials have even agreed to backroom deals with the company to undermine workers' living wage complaint with the City and County of San Francisco.

"Workers have signed petitions, held rallies and even walked off the job to protest Aramark's refusal to recognize their union," said Cristina Vazquez, Manager of the Western States Regional Joint Board. "It is shameful that Aramark took so long to recognize what workers have been saying: Workers United is their union."

Workers United represents nearly every organized industrial laundry in California--including 17 other Aramark facilities. UNITE HERE represents none. Aramark laundry workers in the Bay Area have been members of Local 3 for nearly 20 years. The company is refusing to recognize workers' union at dozens of other facilities across the country.

Workers United, SEIU was formed in March 2009 after 150,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada decided to leave UNITE HERE to create a union that put workers first. Workers United members work in the laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textile, manufacturing and distribution industries.