According to UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef in the release:
“We have listened to a wide range of sometimes-conflicting concerns, and I believe we are responding in a principled way to balance the cost of improved benefits and wages for our food service workers with the need to maintain access and affordability for our students… And, very important to me because I believe a contract is one’s word, we are doing so without breaking our contract with Sodexho. Sodexho is being responsive to our requests and is committed to strengthening its overall compensation competitiveness and workplace environment.”
The release further claims:
“According to the agreement, Sodexho will augment its existing medical benefits plan by increasing the employer contribution level, effective January 1. The specific employer contribution will be determined by Sodexho prior to its employee health plan open-enrollment period in October.
The changes to the Sodexho contract are expected to add additional annual costs of approximately $2 million — an estimated $1.5 million per year in additional costs to Student Housing and $500,000 per year to the Student Union operating services.”
While the university’s motivation here is unclear, one thing that is clear is that this was an agreement between UC Davis and the Sodexho food company.
Dennis Shimek, Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, confirmed for the Vanguard:
“The negotiations relative to the changes were between the UC and the Sodexho.”
Mr. Shimek claims that the university according to state law cannot negotiate with these workers. There have been some meetings in the past between the university and representatives from the workers such as the one on May 23, but he “would not characterize those as negotiations.” There have never been any negotiations and that they cannot negotiate with the workers employed by Sodexho.
Gary Poirier, a Principle Food Service Worker who works at the university, told us that the workers are not happy with the “offer.”
“These employees have no voice at all in the process.
We’ve been working on this over a year, we want them to hire those workers on as UC workers eventually.
[This is] a plan that they came up with on their own, as far as I know they didn’t contact the union or attempt to negotiate about this and they made the move and announced it in a press release”
For him the bottom line is for the university to negotiate with the employees in good faith.
“We just think all of those workers need to have a voice in the process, they don’t have a voice, they need a voice.”
According Dennis Shimek, this agreement does not preclude Sodexho Employees from becoming university employees, a point he stressed at least four times during our conversation.
The arrangements that we are now making are really interim arrangements with serious considerations toward the cost implications, how this is financed, and the cost to the students. With regards to the future issue with how we do business on campus with employees, all options on table.
The option of Sodexho Employees becoming university employees is on the table.
Phasing in the cost is an important consideration in this matter as well as the cost consideration to the students.
For him and the university, the key consideration was that the University wanted to increase wages and benefits, and felt that these are steps they could take while still being able to manage the impact on student costs.
However, for many involved in this process, Mr. Shimek and the University coming to a deal with Sodexho without discussions with the workers is not leaving all of the options on the table.
A key factor is that this deal pays the workers an additional $2 million. However, it would only take an additional $1.2 million to fully bring in these workers as university employees. That sounds like a lot to the average person but to put this into perspective, this amounts to less than one-quarter of one percent of the operating expenses of the university. That would be like an individual who makes $50,000 having to adjust their budget to include an addition $125 payment. It may not be painless, but it should not break the bank either.
The University has used the issue of balancing student fees with employees wages and yet that is not the only source of money that can be freed up to pay for these expenses. The university continues to give lucrative wages and increases to their upper administration while trying to hold the line on people making very marginal incomes.
Dan Cole is the lead cook at Segundo and in charge of the station at the Segundo Dining Commons. He has been an employee there for five years. He makes a marginal income and feels he pays a lot for his health care benefits even though they are not great benefits.
According to him, this agreement is a good start.
“Everyone’s initial reaction was kind of to get excited, but they doing it for the wrong reasons, why now? They are doing this to get around the union. I don’t see why if they can get us the two-thirds, why can’t they go the whole way.”
That is a point that he kept emphasizing, the University was willing to go two-thirds of the way there in terms of wages and benefits, but that’s not the end of the story. There is no reason that they cannot go all the way and give them university employee status.
He views the University’s tactic however as a “tactic to get around the union issue. They want to keep us as minimally happy as possible to keep things the way they are.”
He described many of the workers now as being more resolved.
“Absolutely, everyone’s reaction is quite excited.”
If anything this has made them in even stronger support for the union and their goals of becoming university employees.
“Without the union, this would not happen at all. A lot of people recognize what the union brings us—whether you agree or disagree with the union here, it is clear that this would not have happened if the union weren’t here.”
And so this complicated process continues. The University has not had any kind of formal or informal talks with the union or the workers since the school year ended in June. It is clear however that the university is starting to give ground on this issue and that this represents a good first step. The university basically gave the workers two-thirds of what they wanted with no concessions from the workers. That seems rather extraordinary. However, if the University was attempting to break the will of the workers with this move, it appears to have only made them more resolved to achieve their ultimate goal of university employment–a goal that at least according to Dennis Shimek, is still on the table.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
When does the contract with Sodexo expire? It would be reasonable for UC to buy their way out like this until the contract expires and then change the management structure or at least make sure that the workers contract with Sodexo contains everything that a contract with UC would contain.
When does the contract with Sodexo expire? It would be reasonable for UC to buy their way out like this until the contract expires and then change the management structure or at least make sure that the workers contract with Sodexo contains everything that a contract with UC would contain.
When does the contract with Sodexo expire? It would be reasonable for UC to buy their way out like this until the contract expires and then change the management structure or at least make sure that the workers contract with Sodexo contains everything that a contract with UC would contain.
When does the contract with Sodexo expire? It would be reasonable for UC to buy their way out like this until the contract expires and then change the management structure or at least make sure that the workers contract with Sodexo contains everything that a contract with UC would contain.
the strategy here is obvious: the UCD administration is trying to buy its way out of the pressure created by the organizing effort on behalf of the Sodexho workers, and get the people that have been pressuring them behind the scenes, legislative types, to go away
perhaps, the door really has been opened towards transforming Sodexho workers into UCD employees, but I remain skeptical
under Vanderhoef, UCD has been notoriously hostile to labor unions, one of the worst campuses, if not the worst, in the UC system, so I’ll believe it when I see it
one gets the impression that Vanderhoef and UCD faced the prospect of even more public humiliations, and devised this approach (pehaps with some help from Davis establishment Democrats, like Thomson, and, even possibly, Wolk?) as a way of trying to defuse the situation by improving the benefits of Sodexho workers, while denying an organizing victory to the labor organizers who helped make it possible
my guess is, unless there is an intended clear transition of these workers into UCD employees contemplated, this will only provide some temporary breathing space for the UCD administration
–Richard Estes
the strategy here is obvious: the UCD administration is trying to buy its way out of the pressure created by the organizing effort on behalf of the Sodexho workers, and get the people that have been pressuring them behind the scenes, legislative types, to go away
perhaps, the door really has been opened towards transforming Sodexho workers into UCD employees, but I remain skeptical
under Vanderhoef, UCD has been notoriously hostile to labor unions, one of the worst campuses, if not the worst, in the UC system, so I’ll believe it when I see it
one gets the impression that Vanderhoef and UCD faced the prospect of even more public humiliations, and devised this approach (pehaps with some help from Davis establishment Democrats, like Thomson, and, even possibly, Wolk?) as a way of trying to defuse the situation by improving the benefits of Sodexho workers, while denying an organizing victory to the labor organizers who helped make it possible
my guess is, unless there is an intended clear transition of these workers into UCD employees contemplated, this will only provide some temporary breathing space for the UCD administration
–Richard Estes
the strategy here is obvious: the UCD administration is trying to buy its way out of the pressure created by the organizing effort on behalf of the Sodexho workers, and get the people that have been pressuring them behind the scenes, legislative types, to go away
perhaps, the door really has been opened towards transforming Sodexho workers into UCD employees, but I remain skeptical
under Vanderhoef, UCD has been notoriously hostile to labor unions, one of the worst campuses, if not the worst, in the UC system, so I’ll believe it when I see it
one gets the impression that Vanderhoef and UCD faced the prospect of even more public humiliations, and devised this approach (pehaps with some help from Davis establishment Democrats, like Thomson, and, even possibly, Wolk?) as a way of trying to defuse the situation by improving the benefits of Sodexho workers, while denying an organizing victory to the labor organizers who helped make it possible
my guess is, unless there is an intended clear transition of these workers into UCD employees contemplated, this will only provide some temporary breathing space for the UCD administration
–Richard Estes
the strategy here is obvious: the UCD administration is trying to buy its way out of the pressure created by the organizing effort on behalf of the Sodexho workers, and get the people that have been pressuring them behind the scenes, legislative types, to go away
perhaps, the door really has been opened towards transforming Sodexho workers into UCD employees, but I remain skeptical
under Vanderhoef, UCD has been notoriously hostile to labor unions, one of the worst campuses, if not the worst, in the UC system, so I’ll believe it when I see it
one gets the impression that Vanderhoef and UCD faced the prospect of even more public humiliations, and devised this approach (pehaps with some help from Davis establishment Democrats, like Thomson, and, even possibly, Wolk?) as a way of trying to defuse the situation by improving the benefits of Sodexho workers, while denying an organizing victory to the labor organizers who helped make it possible
my guess is, unless there is an intended clear transition of these workers into UCD employees contemplated, this will only provide some temporary breathing space for the UCD administration
–Richard Estes
Let’s “GO ALL THE WAY” Vanderhoef!!! Make them UCD employees, give them a good contract and stop making our university look so bad.
As an alum I’ve always been proud of UCD, however, this is an embarassment.
UCD considers itself a leading university when it comes to other rights such as gay rights, civil rights, etc., but it stops short with pay equity (gender and race) and treating workers with dignity and respect.
DPD – Can you get the salaries of the top UCD administrators and how they have increased over the years? It would be interesting to see these numbers if you can get them.
Let’s “GO ALL THE WAY” Vanderhoef!!! Make them UCD employees, give them a good contract and stop making our university look so bad.
As an alum I’ve always been proud of UCD, however, this is an embarassment.
UCD considers itself a leading university when it comes to other rights such as gay rights, civil rights, etc., but it stops short with pay equity (gender and race) and treating workers with dignity and respect.
DPD – Can you get the salaries of the top UCD administrators and how they have increased over the years? It would be interesting to see these numbers if you can get them.
Let’s “GO ALL THE WAY” Vanderhoef!!! Make them UCD employees, give them a good contract and stop making our university look so bad.
As an alum I’ve always been proud of UCD, however, this is an embarassment.
UCD considers itself a leading university when it comes to other rights such as gay rights, civil rights, etc., but it stops short with pay equity (gender and race) and treating workers with dignity and respect.
DPD – Can you get the salaries of the top UCD administrators and how they have increased over the years? It would be interesting to see these numbers if you can get them.
Let’s “GO ALL THE WAY” Vanderhoef!!! Make them UCD employees, give them a good contract and stop making our university look so bad.
As an alum I’ve always been proud of UCD, however, this is an embarassment.
UCD considers itself a leading university when it comes to other rights such as gay rights, civil rights, etc., but it stops short with pay equity (gender and race) and treating workers with dignity and respect.
DPD – Can you get the salaries of the top UCD administrators and how they have increased over the years? It would be interesting to see these numbers if you can get them.
Big surprise, the union isn’t happy. They didn’t get the extra due paying members that so dearly wanted to add to their rosters. But how do the actual Sodexho employees really feel? Or the students (who ultimately will pay the extra cost) who often are already forced into buying meal plans they don’t really want?
Big surprise, the union isn’t happy. They didn’t get the extra due paying members that so dearly wanted to add to their rosters. But how do the actual Sodexho employees really feel? Or the students (who ultimately will pay the extra cost) who often are already forced into buying meal plans they don’t really want?
Big surprise, the union isn’t happy. They didn’t get the extra due paying members that so dearly wanted to add to their rosters. But how do the actual Sodexho employees really feel? Or the students (who ultimately will pay the extra cost) who often are already forced into buying meal plans they don’t really want?
Big surprise, the union isn’t happy. They didn’t get the extra due paying members that so dearly wanted to add to their rosters. But how do the actual Sodexho employees really feel? Or the students (who ultimately will pay the extra cost) who often are already forced into buying meal plans they don’t really want?
Excuse me anonymous, but the two people I interviewed were both Food Service Workers at the University. The second person I spoke with had just gotten off their shift and related to the public how the employees took the news. Did you actually read the article?
Excuse me anonymous, but the two people I interviewed were both Food Service Workers at the University. The second person I spoke with had just gotten off their shift and related to the public how the employees took the news. Did you actually read the article?
Excuse me anonymous, but the two people I interviewed were both Food Service Workers at the University. The second person I spoke with had just gotten off their shift and related to the public how the employees took the news. Did you actually read the article?
Excuse me anonymous, but the two people I interviewed were both Food Service Workers at the University. The second person I spoke with had just gotten off their shift and related to the public how the employees took the news. Did you actually read the article?
if the workers can sustain their efforts into a new school year without a drop in energy, i don’t see how the university will be able to hold out. the offer seems to me to be intended to undercut the greater demands at a weak point in the school year, when student turnover erases a lot of institutional memory. should be interesting to see how it all pans out.
if the workers can sustain their efforts into a new school year without a drop in energy, i don’t see how the university will be able to hold out. the offer seems to me to be intended to undercut the greater demands at a weak point in the school year, when student turnover erases a lot of institutional memory. should be interesting to see how it all pans out.
if the workers can sustain their efforts into a new school year without a drop in energy, i don’t see how the university will be able to hold out. the offer seems to me to be intended to undercut the greater demands at a weak point in the school year, when student turnover erases a lot of institutional memory. should be interesting to see how it all pans out.
if the workers can sustain their efforts into a new school year without a drop in energy, i don’t see how the university will be able to hold out. the offer seems to me to be intended to undercut the greater demands at a weak point in the school year, when student turnover erases a lot of institutional memory. should be interesting to see how it all pans out.
Since everyone else is busy jacking off the union and the workers for their great work i guess i’ll be the one to give credit to the students for the organizing they do every single day, and who without not one single part of this would have been possible.
Since everyone else is busy jacking off the union and the workers for their great work i guess i’ll be the one to give credit to the students for the organizing they do every single day, and who without not one single part of this would have been possible.
Since everyone else is busy jacking off the union and the workers for their great work i guess i’ll be the one to give credit to the students for the organizing they do every single day, and who without not one single part of this would have been possible.
Since everyone else is busy jacking off the union and the workers for their great work i guess i’ll be the one to give credit to the students for the organizing they do every single day, and who without not one single part of this would have been possible.
anonymous at 1:33pm: winner of the Mrak Hall sycophant award for the day when it comes to the Sodexho dispute
all in all, pretty lame, because the students were working, and continue to work, alongside the union for mutually agreed upon goals, making them distinguishable only in the eyes of the UCD administration, which has pursued a strategy of publicly separating the students from the union, predictably without success
so, in his or her own crude way, anonymous at 1:33pm is merely recycling the UCD administration propaganda line when it comes to the Sodexho dispute, thus earning the honor Mrak Hall sycophant of the day honor
–Richard Estes
anonymous at 1:33pm: winner of the Mrak Hall sycophant award for the day when it comes to the Sodexho dispute
all in all, pretty lame, because the students were working, and continue to work, alongside the union for mutually agreed upon goals, making them distinguishable only in the eyes of the UCD administration, which has pursued a strategy of publicly separating the students from the union, predictably without success
so, in his or her own crude way, anonymous at 1:33pm is merely recycling the UCD administration propaganda line when it comes to the Sodexho dispute, thus earning the honor Mrak Hall sycophant of the day honor
–Richard Estes
anonymous at 1:33pm: winner of the Mrak Hall sycophant award for the day when it comes to the Sodexho dispute
all in all, pretty lame, because the students were working, and continue to work, alongside the union for mutually agreed upon goals, making them distinguishable only in the eyes of the UCD administration, which has pursued a strategy of publicly separating the students from the union, predictably without success
so, in his or her own crude way, anonymous at 1:33pm is merely recycling the UCD administration propaganda line when it comes to the Sodexho dispute, thus earning the honor Mrak Hall sycophant of the day honor
–Richard Estes
anonymous at 1:33pm: winner of the Mrak Hall sycophant award for the day when it comes to the Sodexho dispute
all in all, pretty lame, because the students were working, and continue to work, alongside the union for mutually agreed upon goals, making them distinguishable only in the eyes of the UCD administration, which has pursued a strategy of publicly separating the students from the union, predictably without success
so, in his or her own crude way, anonymous at 1:33pm is merely recycling the UCD administration propaganda line when it comes to the Sodexho dispute, thus earning the honor Mrak Hall sycophant of the day honor
–Richard Estes
anon 1:33 –
it’s pretty silly to frame it as students v. workers, considering that a significant number of those food service workers are students.
anon 1:33 –
it’s pretty silly to frame it as students v. workers, considering that a significant number of those food service workers are students.
anon 1:33 –
it’s pretty silly to frame it as students v. workers, considering that a significant number of those food service workers are students.
anon 1:33 –
it’s pretty silly to frame it as students v. workers, considering that a significant number of those food service workers are students.
I sent UCD the following request-
“I would like two numbers – to be shared on the People’s Vanguard
Total Salaries/Benefits for the top 100 UCD administrators(Salaries/Benefits/Deferred Com and Housing Allowances) for two years ten years apart. I want to see the growth of compensation over the past decade
1997
2007″
I sent the request to budget@ucdavis.edu
I doubt there will be a response, but I tried.
I sent UCD the following request-
“I would like two numbers – to be shared on the People’s Vanguard
Total Salaries/Benefits for the top 100 UCD administrators(Salaries/Benefits/Deferred Com and Housing Allowances) for two years ten years apart. I want to see the growth of compensation over the past decade
1997
2007″
I sent the request to budget@ucdavis.edu
I doubt there will be a response, but I tried.
I sent UCD the following request-
“I would like two numbers – to be shared on the People’s Vanguard
Total Salaries/Benefits for the top 100 UCD administrators(Salaries/Benefits/Deferred Com and Housing Allowances) for two years ten years apart. I want to see the growth of compensation over the past decade
1997
2007″
I sent the request to budget@ucdavis.edu
I doubt there will be a response, but I tried.
I sent UCD the following request-
“I would like two numbers – to be shared on the People’s Vanguard
Total Salaries/Benefits for the top 100 UCD administrators(Salaries/Benefits/Deferred Com and Housing Allowances) for two years ten years apart. I want to see the growth of compensation over the past decade
1997
2007″
I sent the request to budget@ucdavis.edu
I doubt there will be a response, but I tried.
Very enlightening…the great socialist republic of Davis lives. Lots of energy being wasted on a subject that is fixed by capitalism on a daily basis…employers and employees choose where they work and how much they should be paid.
SAH wants to know about high level administration costs…these costs have soared at every institution and business in the country because the “market” compensation for well-educated and highly performing people are in significant demand. Institutions and companies that wish to remain at the forefront depend on hiring talented people.
If the sodexo workers can make more money other places, they are free to do so. If enough of them leave and can’t be replaced at current pay levels, Sodexo and the university will have to pay more.
Unions and other attempts to force employers to pay more than market compensation (especially in very tight job markets) are waste of time and energy.
Very enlightening…the great socialist republic of Davis lives. Lots of energy being wasted on a subject that is fixed by capitalism on a daily basis…employers and employees choose where they work and how much they should be paid.
SAH wants to know about high level administration costs…these costs have soared at every institution and business in the country because the “market” compensation for well-educated and highly performing people are in significant demand. Institutions and companies that wish to remain at the forefront depend on hiring talented people.
If the sodexo workers can make more money other places, they are free to do so. If enough of them leave and can’t be replaced at current pay levels, Sodexo and the university will have to pay more.
Unions and other attempts to force employers to pay more than market compensation (especially in very tight job markets) are waste of time and energy.
Very enlightening…the great socialist republic of Davis lives. Lots of energy being wasted on a subject that is fixed by capitalism on a daily basis…employers and employees choose where they work and how much they should be paid.
SAH wants to know about high level administration costs…these costs have soared at every institution and business in the country because the “market” compensation for well-educated and highly performing people are in significant demand. Institutions and companies that wish to remain at the forefront depend on hiring talented people.
If the sodexo workers can make more money other places, they are free to do so. If enough of them leave and can’t be replaced at current pay levels, Sodexo and the university will have to pay more.
Unions and other attempts to force employers to pay more than market compensation (especially in very tight job markets) are waste of time and energy.
Very enlightening…the great socialist republic of Davis lives. Lots of energy being wasted on a subject that is fixed by capitalism on a daily basis…employers and employees choose where they work and how much they should be paid.
SAH wants to know about high level administration costs…these costs have soared at every institution and business in the country because the “market” compensation for well-educated and highly performing people are in significant demand. Institutions and companies that wish to remain at the forefront depend on hiring talented people.
If the sodexo workers can make more money other places, they are free to do so. If enough of them leave and can’t be replaced at current pay levels, Sodexo and the university will have to pay more.
Unions and other attempts to force employers to pay more than market compensation (especially in very tight job markets) are waste of time and energy.
what the above statement elides is that the same group of individuals get to make decisions on the pay scale of both groups fo workers, not some abstract “invisible hand of the market.”
if janitors got to set salaries for entire corporations or educational institutions, you can bet that janitors would become very well paid very quickly.