Food workers at state universities ready to walk out if contract agreement not reached with Sodexo

NEW BRITAIN, CT. (WFSB) - Hundreds of food service workers at Connecticut state universities are preparing for a potential walk out.

The 280 workers have been in contract negotiations with Sodexo since March and are demanding higher wages to keep up with inflation.

Some workers also picketed at Central Connecticut State University Tuesday evening.

They say that if they cannot come to an agreement, they will walk out. That would leave students to wonder who will be serving them food.

“When I first started here, it was a good paying job for me and made good wages and benefits, but with the pandemic and inflation has been very hard,” said Frankie Petraccone, CCSU dining hall worker.

He graduated from Central in 2016 and went on to become a cook at the university, a job he says he doesn’t want to leave.

“I at one point had three jobs. And I still couldn’t afford to buy a home,” he continued. “I love my job I want to stay here, but I would like fair wages, and to keep our health benefits.”

Sodexo is offering the workers $26 an hour, an agreement the company says is one of the most competitive wages in the state.

“We are used to fighting. If it’s going to take a fight to get to a fair contract, then we are OK with that,” said Joshua Stanley, Unite Here Local 217 Secretary and Treasurer.

The union says the goal is not to disrupt the students on campus and reach an agreement before enacting a strike, which would cause workers to walk out of the dining halls.

“It will impact me yes,” said Jacquelin Mathlin, a junior at CCSU. “I feel as though what they’re doing is right. And I think they should fight for their rights.”

“Campus dining venues remain open, and Sodexo has informed university leadership that contingency plans are being developed should service disruptions occur,” said the university in a statement.

The workers at CCSU and Southern Connecticut State University are currently working without a contract.

At Western Connecticut State University, the contract between the union and Sodexo expires on September 1st.

The union and the company are actively working on negotiations, which is a conversation the universities are not a part of.