So there is a boycott of Usdan planned starting tomorrow, Wednesday 9/19. The plan is to skip out on breakfast and lunch at Usdan in order to demand better pricing and show support for worker’s rights.
It was also suggested to me by a friend to have a large number of people storm the Marketplace during lunch, get their food, and just sit on the Marketplace floor to eat.
Really, the sky’s the limit.
Holly adds (by request):
Or, well, here’s a thought. If you’re concerned about worker’s rights, you could, you know, ask them what would most help them. A boycott, as above anon suggested, probably won’t do anything but spoil all the food they’ve made for lunch. You’ve technically already paid for it. That’s the biggest problem facing a boycott. It’s not actually impacting them.
I mean, it’s all well and good to send a message. But a stronger message would be to target Wesleyan more than BA, since as we’ve said before on this blog, everything BA does Wesleyan has to approve of and being students (and future alum donors, mind you) we have a better chance of exerting pressure there than we do against BA which, as I’ve said, has us by the balls in terms of the power of the purse.
So the tactic might be to target admissions. Since Usdan is right across the street from admissions, protest on Wyllys Avenue. That’s going to get some fucking attention no matter what. Do that every lunch for a week. See what happens.
As for food costs, I wish I knew. This has always been a problem even with Aramark. Fucking $13 dried blueberries, what?
Ya know there are other things to protest about…The war in IraqAbortion RightsAnimal RightsIf worker’s rights are really your gig, go help out the folks working for Wal-Mart or McD’s. They get minimum wage, no benefits, and have really shitty jobs in general.
Ya know there are other things to protest about…
The war in Iraq
Abortion Rights
Animal Rights
If worker’s rights are really your gig, go help out the folks working for Wal-Mart or McD’s. They get minimum wage, no benefits, and have really shitty jobs in general.
They don’t know that stuff about the sushi workers, and Sandy told me she didn’t get back her benefits.
They don’t know that stuff about the sushi workers, and Sandy told me she didn’t get back her benefits.
higher costs that can’t be passed on to the consumer usually means lower quality. is that what you guys really want? I think you had that. It was called Aramark.
higher costs that can’t be passed on to the consumer usually means lower quality. is that what you guys really want? I think you had that. It was called Aramark.
Thanks for the information from the WSA, last anonymous. Much appreciated!
Thanks for the information from the WSA, last anonymous. Much appreciated!
The WSA is working very hard to find out as much as possible about Bon Appetit and workers’ rights. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there.The union has an understandable need to fight Bon Appetit tooth-and-nail on every issue that comes up. As Raquel said, if the workers let ANYTHING slide at this point, this sends Bon Appetit the message that the union can be taken down.However, this position sort of necessitates exaggeration and misinformation. Did you know:-Sandy Baik has been back to a 22 hour shift for some time now and is receiving health benefits. Sandy had to use her union seniority to bid on a 4 hour shift in Usdan (I believe); Bon Appetit has little to no control over who works the shifts.-The compliance board for the Code of Service Workers has certified that the sushi workers are receiving a fair living wage based on information provided by the subcontractor. The Code was established and has been maintained in part by USLAC, and ensures that workers receive fair total and hourly compensation which provides (directly or monetarily) the means to receive health benefits.It’s important that all the information gets out there before people jump on the bandwagon and start using tactics like boycotts that end up hurting the workers.
The WSA is working very hard to find out as much as possible about Bon Appetit and workers’ rights. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there.
The union has an understandable need to fight Bon Appetit tooth-and-nail on every issue that comes up. As Raquel said, if the workers let ANYTHING slide at this point, this sends Bon Appetit the message that the union can be taken down.
However, this position sort of necessitates exaggeration and misinformation. Did you know:
-Sandy Baik has been back to a 22 hour shift for some time now and is receiving health benefits. Sandy had to use her union seniority to bid on a 4 hour shift in Usdan (I believe); Bon Appetit has little to no control over who works the shifts.
-The compliance board for the Code of Service Workers has certified that the sushi workers are receiving a fair living wage based on information provided by the subcontractor. The Code was established and has been maintained in part by USLAC, and ensures that workers receive fair total and hourly compensation which provides (directly or monetarily) the means to receive health benefits.
It’s important that all the information gets out there before people jump on the bandwagon and start using tactics like boycotts that end up hurting the workers.
Which sounds more effective and constructive to you:1) Usdan lunch traffic diminishing by 5-10% (believe it or not, a successful boycott depends on solidarity, and that can take planning… I’m not even going to go into the reasons why a boycott isn’t the best tool right now)2) 5%-10% of the student body (250 people?) gathering for a speak-out / open forum / discussion in front of the Usdan.Just saying…
Which sounds more effective and constructive to you:
1) Usdan lunch traffic diminishing by 5-10% (believe it or not, a successful boycott depends on solidarity, and that can take planning… I’m not even going to go into the reasons why a boycott isn’t the best tool right now)
2) 5%-10% of the student body (250 people?) gathering for a speak-out / open forum / discussion in front of the Usdan.
Just saying…
Hey Estrella, No one is advocating firebombing or anything. Just a table on the sidewalk in front of the admissions office would be enough.
Please, for the love of god, dont cluster around admissions. Can we keep the pre-frosh out of this?
Hey Estrella,
No one is advocating firebombing or anything. Just a table on the sidewalk in front of the admissions office would be enough.
Please, for the love of god, dont cluster around admissions. Can we keep the pre-frosh out of this?
Keep your eyes out for the WSA’s resolution on this matter: I have heard that the facts of the BA predicament, and must say the Wesleyan populace is grossly uninformed. PLEASE, someone in the WSA- set us straight here, before we go and firebomb the innocent!
Keep your eyes out for the WSA’s resolution on this matter: I have heard that the facts of the BA predicament, and must say the Wesleyan populace is grossly uninformed. PLEASE, someone in the WSA- set us straight here, before we go and firebomb the innocent!
Or, well, here’s a thought. If you’re concerned about worker’s rights, you could, you know, ask them what would most help them. A boycott, as above anon suggested, probably won’t do anything but spoil all the food they’ve made for lunch. You’ve technically already paid for it. That’s the biggest problem facing a boycott. It’s not actually impacting them. I mean, it’s all well and good to send a message. But a stronger message would be to target Wesleyan more than BA, since as we’ve said before on this blog, everything BA does Wesleyan has to approve of and being students (and future alum donors, mind you) we have a better chance of exerting pressure there than we do against BA which, as I’ve said, has us by the balls in terms of the power of the purse. So the tactic might be to target admissions. Since Usdan is right across the street from admissions, protest on Wyllys Avenue. That’s going to get some fucking attention no matter what. Do that every lunch for a week. See what happens.As for food costs, I wish I knew. This has always been a problem even with Aramark. Fucking $13 dried blueberries, what?
Or, well, here’s a thought. If you’re concerned about worker’s rights, you could, you know, ask them what would most help them. A boycott, as above anon suggested, probably won’t do anything but spoil all the food they’ve made for lunch. You’ve technically already paid for it. That’s the biggest problem facing a boycott. It’s not actually impacting them.
I mean, it’s all well and good to send a message. But a stronger message would be to target Wesleyan more than BA, since as we’ve said before on this blog, everything BA does Wesleyan has to approve of and being students (and future alum donors, mind you) we have a better chance of exerting pressure there than we do against BA which, as I’ve said, has us by the balls in terms of the power of the purse.
So the tactic might be to target admissions. Since Usdan is right across the street from admissions, protest on Wyllys Avenue. That’s going to get some fucking attention no matter what. Do that every lunch for a week. See what happens.
As for food costs, I wish I knew. This has always been a problem even with Aramark. Fucking $13 dried blueberries, what?
how I see it: A regular boycott makes the most sense, would be more successful, and at least give us other options for getting food during that time. who wants to deal with joining a flashmob during lunchtime? I just want to go somewhere else to get my food while at the same time sending the message.
how I see it: A regular boycott makes the most sense, would be more successful, and at least give us other options for getting food during that time. who wants to deal with joining a flashmob during lunchtime? I just want to go somewhere else to get my food while at the same time sending the message.
A “flash mob” would only hurt the workers whom we are trying to help.
A “flash mob” would only hurt the workers whom we are trying to help.
The idea of a boycott seems pretty funny to me. You already paid these people their money’s. If you don’t use up all your points? Hey, more profit for them.
The idea of a boycott seems pretty funny to me. You already paid these people their money’s. If you don’t use up all your points? Hey, more profit for them.
So we boycott by buying their food and showing up?
So we boycott by buying their food and showing up?