CLAYTON, Mo.—Washington University’s more than 300 food-service workers narrowly approved their first union contract
November 22. The three-year agreement between United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 and Bon Appétit, the university’s food-service contractor, will give them raises totaling 11 to 14%, more vacation days, and “show-up” pay, in which they are guaranteed at least partial pay when they are sent home before the end of a shift. It also gives them the right to sign up for the UFCW’s health-care and retirement benefits. “We wanted better pay and working conditions that we’ve worked hard for, and this contract is the result of a lot of hard work,” said Gilbert Grisby, a worker who helped negotiate the pact. The agreement will go into effect immediately.
