AVI, employees clash over wages, insurance
Teddy Eismeier
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: News
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A labor dispute between Kenyon's foodservice provider AVI Foodsystems, Inc. and its employees became public this week as union members released details about ongoing negotiations. Negotiation committee member Rochelle Arck said wage and insurance issues are slowing the negotiations to a standstill.
AVI's employees are members of UniteHere, a labor union representing workers in restaurants, hotels, casinos and other industries. Members of UniteHere Local 84, the union affiliate for AVI workers at Kenyon, raised several contractual complaints related to wages and health insurance coverage.
Representatives of UniteHere Local 84 claim that AVI's management has declined to raise the wage negotiated two years ago. Union members said that the raise would adjust their wages for inflation and other increased expenses including high fuel and heating costs.
"Everything goes up, so you need to adjust wages to prices," Arck said. "We're not really asking much more than a decent wage increase to offset that."
The current contract states that AVI must help pay for their employees insurance even while on vacation. As part of the new contract AVI would like to stop this practice.
"The committee is still negotiating a contract," Arck said. "We have a meeting on November 2 with a federal mediator. We want to keep insurance paid."
According to the negotiating committee, the foodservice workers conceded their pension in favor of a 401(k) when they negotiated a new contract with AVI after Aramark was let go. Under a 401(k) plan, employees contribute a certain amount of their monthly salary to a savings account, which is then matched up to a certain percentage by the employer. A pension guarantees a set amount following retirement.
"AVI saved $80,000 by switching to a 401(k) plan," Arck said. The negotiating team said that after giving up their pensions, AVI's employees are holding their ground on wage issues and health benefits.
"They're offering less than the previous contract, decreased wage and health insurance," Arck said. "We have to follow union guidelines, but we might be heading towards the strike area if the next meeting doesn't go well."
AVI's employees are members of UniteHere, a labor union representing workers in restaurants, hotels, casinos and other industries. Members of UniteHere Local 84, the union affiliate for AVI workers at Kenyon, raised several contractual complaints related to wages and health insurance coverage.
Representatives of UniteHere Local 84 claim that AVI's management has declined to raise the wage negotiated two years ago. Union members said that the raise would adjust their wages for inflation and other increased expenses including high fuel and heating costs.
"Everything goes up, so you need to adjust wages to prices," Arck said. "We're not really asking much more than a decent wage increase to offset that."
The current contract states that AVI must help pay for their employees insurance even while on vacation. As part of the new contract AVI would like to stop this practice.
"The committee is still negotiating a contract," Arck said. "We have a meeting on November 2 with a federal mediator. We want to keep insurance paid."
According to the negotiating committee, the foodservice workers conceded their pension in favor of a 401(k) when they negotiated a new contract with AVI after Aramark was let go. Under a 401(k) plan, employees contribute a certain amount of their monthly salary to a savings account, which is then matched up to a certain percentage by the employer. A pension guarantees a set amount following retirement.
"AVI saved $80,000 by switching to a 401(k) plan," Arck said. The negotiating team said that after giving up their pensions, AVI's employees are holding their ground on wage issues and health benefits.
"They're offering less than the previous contract, decreased wage and health insurance," Arck said. "We have to follow union guidelines, but we might be heading towards the strike area if the next meeting doesn't go well."
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