A crowd of Sodexo employees and allies filed into Sodexo General Manager Andy Allen’s office last Tuesday to protest scheduling cuts and poor labor conditions. The workers delivered a petition from the Brandeis Labor Coalition, which called upon management to create more 40-hour union positions and increase staffing during the week.

The workers — many of whom were members of UNITE HERE!, which represents food service employees — demanded that Sodexo management act within a week to address the grievances.

One Currito worker told Allen that the lines in Upper Usdan had become longer, because all the dining locations are understaffed. “Every day, I feel sad to come into work,” she said. “It’s a lot of work in the morning for two people.”

Another worker chimed in, highlighting long lines at dining locations around campus: “Everywhere is so busy. Currito is busy, Sub Connection is busy, Louis’ is busy and Lower Usdan is busy,” she said. “Everywhere is so busy. It’s no reason to cut our hours.”

“No one cares about our breaks,” another added. “When we have to go to the bathroom, we have to wait.”

Others who spoke emphasized the toll that understaffing takes on employees, forcing them to do more work than they should. “Some days we work like slaves. We’re not slaves,” one worker told Allen.

Additionally, Sodexo management has relied on temporary employees and managers to do work that should be going to full-time workers, the group argued. “The point is, when we walk in the door and we see four managers and four employees, it feels wrong. In my personal opinion, we should have more workers,” one of the workers said. “We are union workers. We expect to get the hours we deserve.”

“Nothing would make me happier than to hire more people,” Allen responded. “We don’t bring in temps unless we have to.”

As a result of cut hours, some employees have had to take on other jobs to make ends meet. “This is hurting my wallet just like everybody else. I had to pick up a part-time job now just to make up what you people are taking away from me,” said one of the employees. “This has been going on a long time. Am I frustrated? Yes, I’m frustrated. I was hired as a 40-hour employee, and I should be getting 40 hours.”

At times, some workers also became frustrated, accusing Allen of not giving them answers.

“I’ve been taking input,” Allen replied. “The point here … is to get the information I need and get the management team together and figure [it] out.”

BLC members and students also had an opportunity to speak at the end of the meeting, pledging their support for the workers. “The Brandeis Labor Coalition is here,” said BLC member Aaron Goodwin ’18. “We’ve been keeping track of what Sodexo has been doing since they’ve been here. We’ve been talking with workers. We know that you’ve been consistently cutting hours, and that’s consistently been a problem since Sodexo came here.”

Allen reiterated his support for the workers, telling the crowd that he was interested in opening up a dialogue about past and ongoing Sodexo initiatives. “I chose to come back because I like Brandeis [and] I like the coworkers, and if that’s [not] how I’ve been representing it … check me up,” said Allen, who returned to campus in January. “I have a deep, deep sense of caring for these employees. … That’s why I came back here — because I enjoy working with this team.”

—Max Moran contributed reporting.