This week on American University’s campus there have been protests against Aramark. Aramark is a worldwide company focusing on food service, facilities management, and uniforms. It is known on American’s campus to treat its workers poorly. The following is an overview of Aramark as a company at American University and at other institutions:
Recent protests are about Ana, a woman who was 40 minutes late to work because she was in class at American University’s Washington College of Law.
Ana’s story sparked outrage on-campus and led to sit-ins at the Aramark office in an attempt to hold the managerial staff accountable for the unjust treatment of workers -- not only limited to Ana’s experience. The Eagle -- an on-campus newspaper -- has reported on many worker rights issues brought forth by Justice for AU Workers Coalition and AU Student Worker Alliance.
Ivy Kaplan from The Eagle reported on an injured Aramark worker, Alba Vigil, whose work load was increased despite providing documentation about her physical limits. Vigil's work was increased despite her notifying her supervisors of health concerns.
Problems with Aramark are not limited to American University. Aramark has a presence in sporting arenas, prisons, universities and high schools. Its poor treatment of workers has been noted across the country. In a Philadelphia ballpark, protests were held to raise awareness of inequality in promotional practices. Predominantly black Aramark workers were not being promoted from within and saw job openings going to white workers. The white workers making sometimes three times more than the black employees.
The company has had various food safety problems. In a Michigan prison, Aramark was accused of serving prisoners unrefrigerated meat, moldy food, and food tainted by maggots. On top of food safety violations Aramark over billed the state of Michigan. Prisons in Ohio faced similar problems.
The University of Chicago dining halls closed repeatedly due to food and health citations from the city of Chicago and failed five dining hall inspections in 2012 alone. A petition at Clarkson University noted that students were overpaying for their meal plans and receiving “wilted, slimy, and curtailed food.”
In New York, Aramark was investigated for selling cleaning supplies to public schools that contained banned chemicals and not providing the workers using the supplies with proper protection and training. This directly put workers in danger, a violation of federal law ensuring that workers are aware of the dangers of their job.
From food and chemical safety, to workers rights, Aramark is not an upstanding company. It’s important to recognize that problems are bigger than what's happening on-campus, that the problems are institutional. By harnessing and fighting the issues brought about by Aramark will be integral to the overall success of the exploited workers movement on American University’s campus. Don’t forget the workers that prepare our food and clean our living areas are deserving of respect. It’s time for change on American’s campus. #Justice4Ana
For updates about Aramark at American University follow:
Web: theeagleonline.com
Twitter: @au_swa
Facebook: Justice for AU Workers Coalition and AU Student Worker Alliance
