As negotiations for better pay, benefits and a signed union contract continue between the university and its dining and facilities workers, employees have taken two steps to spread awareness about their cause. The union hosted their second rally at 34 Rockview Street behind campus, where they spoke about workers’ conditions and Sodexo’s attempts at preventing workers from speaking about their struggles.

“We had a worker from Tex Mex who quit,” said Benjamin Williams, a union member working at Sodexo. “It was super hot behind the bar because when working there the flat top pressers need to be constantly kept on, and there was no fan. He complained about it and the managers told him that it was not that hot. He was uncomfortable and they didn’t see it.”

The employees voiced concerns about what they said is the university’s attempts to stifle the voices from the employees by preventing them from talking to coworkers about the union, to the student body or about the press. “When we first started about getting Local 217 on our side, word of mouth went through management, and became an issue,” said union worker Richard Ramos. “[It got] to the point where they were sending us letters in the mail about the union, and putting up notes on the time clock about how we’re not allowed to talk about it. They said it with their legal jargon, even though it’s our freedom of speech.”

Ramos believes the school has not done enough to change the misfortunes of Sodexo employees as well as facilities workers.
“There hasn’t really been any change going on,” said Ramos. “We’ve been vocalizing ourselves and putting ourselves out there to get our point across, but we haven’t received any feedback yet.”

Employees have expressed relief working with UNITE Local 217 and the work the union is doing to help university’s employees reach their career goals.

“Even though we haven’t seen an impact from the school itself, we definitely have more involvement from our new union, versus our old one,” said Ramos.

Employees said they hope students will assist them in their efforts.

“Just back us up,” said Ramos. “Word-to-mouth awareness is the best way we can be helped as of right now, keep posting us, and keep spreading positive messages about us.”

Williams, along with his coworkers, believes that a deal will get done and ultimately end in the signing of a contract.

“We just have to have hope, that’s the point in having a union,” said Williams. “You have to have faith in them, that it’s going to happen. Even if it’s meeting us halfway.”

The number of protestors continued to grow, and what was at first a small group of red-shirted individuals became a sea of red in just minutes. The protestors did not exclusively consist of employees, with most attendees bringing their families, as well as children and even pets, amounting to over 250 people.

Isadora Milanez, a UNITE Local 217 organizer, said the protest included employees from UNH and around the state.

“We just wanted to give a shoutout to all the campuses who showed up today,” said Milanez. “We have people gathered around from Southern Connecticut State University, University of Hartford, Central Connecticut State University and more.”

The protestors had a target spot, Bartels Campus Center, where they stopped and waited for all who had fallen behind to catch up to the rest of the crowd. Campus police, workers and curious students crowded the entrance and the windows to witness the employees standing up for themselves.

As the protestors gathered around the back of the hall, several speakers stood on the picnic tables. With a hush going through the crowd, several employees spoke on their struggles with Sodexo and not receiving the benefits that they deserve. The most notable speaker was named by the crowd as Joe, a facilities worker. “I have heard stories from single mothers to single fathers taking care of children during my time working here at this university,” he said amidst cheers from the crowd.

“I want to personally thank each and every one of you,” he said. “I know it’s not easy to give up what free time you have to protest. Take a look around you and look at your coworkers, we all have to have each other’s backs, regardless of job classification.”

He finished his speech saying, “Be loud, be proud, let’s make UNH hear our voices.”

After the round of applause from the audience, Milanez handed out pins to every protestor who attended. The audience vowed to never take them off of their uniforms until they receive the raises and benefits they need in a new contract.