Gathering in Upper Usdan in the mid-afternoon of Sept. 9, Brandeis’ dining workers’ union (Local 26 Boston) protested for a fair contract from Harvest Table. Sheets were passed out among protestors, with chants written on them: “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!” and “Dignity! Respect! More money in our checks!” About 20 dining workers, along with a few students, gathered near The Hive, walking down to Lower Usdan’s entrance, chanting along the way.
Once they reached the office, workers began to speak their demands, which were translated into Chinese and Spanish. Workers mentioned that this group had gathered to tell Harvest Table that now that the semester has started, they needed a fair contract. They also mentioned that peer institutions had already provided their dining workers with fair contracts, and that many workers are struggling paycheck-to-paycheck. Workers said that they need to fight for a better retirement plan, as well as a better overtime policy.
One undergraduate student also spoke, saying that there are some who would like nothing more than for this union and students to be enemies. They added that they want to remind the union that students know who their allies are, and that students who depend on dining halls know that they depend on workers who have a fair wage. They also noted that “Brandeis admin blames Harvest Table [for stalls in contract talks]. Harvest Table blames Brandeis admin [for stalls in contract talks]. Students stand with workers, workers stand with students. We don’t win until we all win.” Protestors chanted for a few more moments before returning to work for the remainder of the day.
Dining workers also held four protests on Sept. 18, one at 8:00 A.M. and one at 3:00 P.M. in Sherman Dining Hall in addition to one at 10:30 A.M. and one at 2:30 P.M. in Usdan. The Hoot attended the afternoon protest in Usdan at 2:30, where workers gathered in Uppers Usdan before chanting and walking to Brandeis Hospitality’s office in Lower Usdan. There, they delivered a stack of several dozen signed petitions to Brandeis Harvest Table administrator Ashley Weaver. The Hoot also attended the afternoon protest in Sherman at 3:00, where workers spoke more directly to two Harvest Table administrators, lodging similar complaints to those from the Sept. 9 protest. One of the Harvest Table administrators, Omar Zouak, said that he appreciates all that the dining employees do, and although he has no say in this, he hopes that it works out for them.
The Hoot reached out to Brandeis Harvest Table administrators Matt Carty and Kory Laznick for comment on the ongoing contract talks and their thoughts on the low wages that many of their workers receive. Despite submitting questions five business days in advance of our deadline for publication, as per Harvest Table’s instructions, The Hoot has not yet received a response. The Hoot also reached out to Harvest Table’s corporate office for comment, but submitted questions too close to publication to receive a response in time.
