Since the arrest of retired AU technology assistant and adjunct professor Jim McCabe on October 13, while advocating for Aramark worker’s rights, there has been a student-driven uproar. The professor was arrested in the Terrace Dining Room by both Public Safety along with the Metropolitan Police Department, while handing out fliers with students to advocate for worker’s rights, specifically for those whom are unable to retire due to the dearth of funds set aside for retirement by management and to inform students of Aramark’s worker’s’ rights violations. McCabe was charged with unlawful entry/trespassing. Through social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, students expressed disappointment in the university, encouraging advocacy for Aramark workers on campus. 

On October 20, the Student Worker Alliance (SWA) hosted a Worker Speak Out in the Mary Graydon Center. Throughout the duration of the event, the entire room was packed and many members of the audience had to stand since all the seats were taken. At the event, Aramark workers, most of whom were in food service, spoke out about a range of issues that affected them including understaffing, food shortages, sick leaves and retirement funds. They empowered the students to collectively organize and advocate for their rights by putting pressure on Aramark and AU. 

SWA has specifically requested confidential reporting at the beginning of the event to protect the worker’s identities. Therefore the use of names, gender pronouns or any other major identifiers will not be used in this article. 

Aramark workers face many challenges, and the biggest challenge seems to be low quality service due to understaffing and negligent management. For example, Einstein Bagels has only one microwave and two ovens.

“We try to make miracles everyday,” a worker said.

One employee made note that the understaffing forces one person to do “a five person job” and many are forced to work overtime. Campus venues often run out of food, which the workers attributed to management not ordering enough. Another worker mentioned the high prices that AU charges for food, such as ranch or hot sauce at Freshii being overpriced and not included in the meal plan.

 “You pay a lot to go here, you should be able to eat whatever you want,” one worker said. 

Another worker expressed disdain over the food venue they work at having constant food shortage. They mentioned not enjoying being “the face” of Aramark’s negligence in food supply when they tell students that they ran out of certain ingredients or food products. They feel badly for the students who are unable to get the food they want and believe that Aramark’s negligence makes the workers look bad. 

The employees’ contract with Aramark only grants them seven sick days for the entire year. If the workers take an 8th eighth sick day, it is unpaid. Missing days grants them two warnings: a verbal and a write-up, after that they are fired. Workers can also get suspended for being late to work, even the next day after long 10-hour shifts. A worker mentioned how they can get suspended for pretty much anything.

Being an Aramark worker is comprised of day to day inconveniences. They are not allowed to bring in outside food from home to eat during breaks, and many times have to wait in  the long lines along with the students in order to get their food. One employee who is a senior citizen, gets out of work as late as 9:45 pm, which they believe is too late for someone their age. One night after they got off from work, they were stalked at a metro bus stop. At times they have to catch a cab on their way to work, which  and that is really expensive. Unfortunately, they do not have the funds to retire, due to Aramark’s poor pension and retirement plans.

Along with the daily inconveniences, Aramark workers are also still not receiving the same benefits as AU faculty, such as free education for their children.

“We’re not being acknowledged as faculty and staff we’re [being treated as] guests,” a worker said. 

Students in the audience were very receptive and seemed eager to help. Many offered to write a list of demands or help create video campaigns. They wanted to know how they as students could support and advocate for worker’s rights on campus. The workers heavily advocated for collective student pressure through joining Student Worker Alliance or organizing email campaigns pinning negligence on Aramark and American University. The workers, who supported Jim McCabe in his efforts to spread awareness about Aramark’s treatment of their employees, encouraged students to continue being active on social media about the issues that McCabe was trying to spread in TDR that Wednesday.

The little things count too:, one worker asked the students to be patient with them if they were having a bad day. They said that sometimes workers are in bad moods due to the way they are treated by management and at times will take it out on students. “Work with us,” they said, acknowledging that generally workers enjoy being surrounded by college students and find humor in their day-to-day interactions with them. Another worker said that smiles and a “Hi, how are you?” is very uplifting and can make or break their day. Overall, workers want students to bond with them and continue building collective pressure against management. 

As far as moving forward, Student Worker Alliance has invited students to attend their upcoming meetings, every Wednesday from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Is the heavily attended Worker Speak Out a reaction to the recent arrest of a former AU staff member and professor or indicative of a new rise in student activism to stand in solidarity with Aramark workers? Only time will tell.