Update: At 11:15 a.m. on Friday, October 25, University of Vermont
president Tom Sullivan sent an email to the school's faculty and staff
with the news that "Sodexo employees will not experience changes in the
current definition of employment status and associated benefits until
further notice in order for the University to complete its analysis
based on a full review of all relevant data and facts."
As reasons for the announcement, the president cited "a very tight
timeframe" for affected employees to find health care; the "challenges"
and "uncertainties" surrounding current health-care options; "The
University’s obligation to complete its review of the proposed changes
under the contract with Sodexo"; and the upcoming negotiations over a
new contract with Sodexo ahead of the current one's expiration in June
2015.
______
When
Sodexo revealed last month that it was changing the definition of a full-time
employee to someone who works an average of 30 hours per week — according to
the rules of the Affordable Care Act — many cried foul at colleges around the
state who subcontract their dining services to the multinational company.
Only
full-timers are eligible for company benefits, so when the new policy takes effect on January 1, many seasonal employees stand to be stripped of their health
and dental insurance, sick and vacation days, and retirement packages. On the
campuses of the University of Vermont and the Vermont state colleges, two
coalitions of staff, faculty, students and labor groups have sprung up
demanding that the schools intervene.
When
the UVM trustees convene this weekend, one of those groups will use a public
comment period on Saturday morning to present a petition — directed at UVM president Tom Sullivan and vice
president for finance Richard Cate, who negotiate the school’s dining services
contract —
with more than 1000 signatures.
Denise
Youngblood, a history professor and president of United Academics, the school’s
faculty union, will also address the trustees. In her talk, Youngblood says,
she’ll ask the board to urge that Sullivan and Cate take advantage of a clause in
the current contract that requires the school’s approval for any change Sodexo makes
in its employees’ working conditions. The existing contract will expire after
2015.
“We believe that UVM should live up to its
proclaimed social justice values,” says Youngblood. “Every employee who works
on this campus should have a fair benefits package. No UVM employees are being treated the way Sodexo employees are being treated.”
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