Activist efforts stalled as semester nears end

The arrest of a Lenoir Dining Hall cashier catapulted UNC students and Carolina Dining Services employees into a marathon of activism during the past month.

They conducted meetings. They signed petitions. They stormed South Building in protest.

“What happened this semester is really an amazing consolidation of worker power and student power,” said Jillian Johnson, student organizer for Service Workers United and a member of Student Action with Workers.

But with the end of the semester just days away, efforts have slowed almost to a standstill.

Activists have put the spotlight on creating a better work environment through collective bargaining, but officials said they have no timetable for change — if it comes.

That worries many students and workers, who say turnover in the dining work force this summer will affect the rehiring of pro-union employees next fall.

And without students to prod administrators into examining conditions for workers, they say, recent efforts could fall by the wayside.

“I’m worried about the summer, but I’m excited about the future,” said Jonathan Pourzal, coordinator of SAW.

At an open house Tuesday, Chancellor James Moeser told workers that in many ways, his hands are tied by UNC’s agreement with Aramark Corp., the international food-service provider that employs CDS employees.

“You are all employees of Aramark,” he said. “You are going to have to go to Aramark.”

The University likely won’t take action until Associate University Counsel Joanna Carey Smith completes her examination of UNC’s contract with Aramark Corp.

Administrators will not know what course of action to take until Chancellor James Moeser reviews the results of the report, said Nancy Davis, associate vice chancellor for university relations.

“There is no specific timetable for the investigation,” she said. “It’s more important to do it in a complete way than a quick way.”

But many said they think UNC could do more.

“The University should really be the one who takes action with this problem,” Pourzal said.

Employees and students have fought to gain support for workers’ rights since Vel Dowdy, a strong union supporter and Lenoir Dining Hall cashier, was arrested March 25 and charged with felony embezzlement for allegedly giving free meals to students.

Dowdy, who is on paid leave, must wait to see if she will get her job back. She goes to trial May 5.

“I don’t know what is going to happen,” she said. “I just want to come back to work, but it’s their decision.”

Other union employees will continue to ask Aramark to accept card-check neutrality — which would allow workers to decide if they want to unionize — and to circulate a petition during the summer, Johnson said.

“It is important for the University, as a community, to take responsibility for how its lowest paid workers are treated,” she said.

Although most students will be gone until fall semester, Johnson said, the workers will look to community support “for a stronger and broader group when we get back.”

Aramark spokeswoman Kate Moran said meetings with students and employees Friday allowed company officials to hear concerns.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.