Following a rally October 1st and a week of organized pressure from workers and students, Brown Dining Services workers at Brown University ratified a new three-year contract with the University on October 15th. The negotiations focused on health care premiums, wage increases, retirement benefits for new hires and the creation of more full-time positions.

Students in Brown’s Student Labor Alliance, Students for a Democratic Society and Real Food at Brown teamed with Rhode Island Jobs with Justice and local unions to organize the rally that drew about 200 people.

Prior to the contract’s October 12th expiration, the University administration decided to make a significant percentage of Dining Services employees pay more for health care and exclude all future hires from the current retirement plan afforded to Dining Services employees.
 
“Both bargaining teams are happy with the resolution,” said director of labor and employee relations Joseph Sarno ’91, the University’s chief negotiator. “We think it’s a fair deal for both teams.”


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