The PBS NewsHour/POLITICO Democratic Presidential Debate appears poised to Proceed as Scheduled on Thursday, after the National Party Organization helped Broker a last-minute Resolution to a Labor Dispute that had threatened to Upend the Televised Forum.
All Seven White House Contenders who Qualified for the Debate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles Threatened last Friday to Skip the Event amid Planned Demonstrations by Campus Workers over their Inability to Reach a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Sodexo, a Global Services Company that is Subcontracted by the University to handle Food Service Operations.
But in a Statement Tuesday, UNITE HERE Local 11, a Union Representing 150 Cashiers, Cooks, Dishwashers, and Servers at the university, Announced that Sodexo and the Workers had “negotiated through Monday evening to secure a tentative contract agreement.”
The News comes after Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez had stepped in to Assist with Re-Starting Talks between Local 11 and Sodexo, which the Union said began in March but Stalled after Workers and Students began Picketing on Campus in November. The Candidates Pledged last week they would Not Cross the Workers’ Picket Line.
DNC Communications Director Xochitl Hinojosa tweeted Monday that Perez “understands how much of a priority it is to get people back at the table,” citing the Chairman's Tenure as Labor Secretary during the Obama Administration, and said the Party expected Sodexo and its Employees to “promptly” return to Negotiations.
“The Democratic National Committee and Tom Perez worked hard to help bring the situation to a positive resolution,” Local 11 said in its Statement Tuesday.
The New Three-year Agreement between its Members and Sodexo includes a 25% Compensation Increase and a 50% Decrease in Health Care Costs, as well as Greater Job Security, the Union said. “Every worker deserves fair wages and benefits. That’s why I was proud to help bring all stakeholders to the table, including UNITE HERE Local 11, Sodexo, and Loyola Marymount University, to reach a deal that meets their needs and supports workers,” Perez said in a Statement Tuesday. “I commend Sodexo and UNITE HERE for coming together in good faith to forge an agreement that is a win-win for everyone, and I appreciate the constructive engagement of LMU leadership which was indispensable to the resolution of this negotiation,” he said.
A DNC Official said Perez Worked the Phones in recent days to Facilitate an Agreement, Speaking repeatedly with the University President, the Local 11 President, and the CEO of Sodexo. The Official said Perez was able to Arrange a Meeting Sunday with the University and Local 11, followed by a day of Negotiations Monday between the Union and Sodexo.
“We are pleased to confirm that, after many months of continuous negotiations, we have reached a tentative agreement with UNITE HERE Local 11 on behalf of Sodexo employees at Loyola Marymount University,” a Sodexo Spokesperson said in a Statement Tuesday.
“Sodexo has agreements with UNITE HERE at more than 70 sites across the country, and we are very happy our positive working relationship can continue with improved benefits and wages for our employees on the campus of LMU,” the Spokesperson added.
In a Statement commenting on the Agreement Tuesday, the University said: “We are pleased with this outcome and glad that we were able to play a constructive role by bringing the negotiating parties together.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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