Mount Vernon News
 
 

Kenyon outsourcing decision protested

 

By ,  Mount Vernon News
June 14, 2012 11:24 am EDT

 

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GAMBIER — More than 100 people — union members, retirees, students, alumnae and community members — descended upon Middle Path on Wednesday to protest the recent decision of Kenyon College to outsource its maintenance operations.

Members of United Electrical Workers Local 712, skilled tradesmen such as electricians and mechanics, are worried about wages and benefits, but are most upset that they will no longer be employees of the college but of the outside company, Sodexo.

Local 712 vice president Bob Wilson said the move will just increase the divide between academia and the community.

“They’re telling us [in effect],” he said, “that Gambier and Kenyon is comprised of aristocrats and servants. We are the commoners, that’s all.”

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The biggest goal of the gathering, said union representative David Painter, was “to get Kenyon to rethink a bad decision and reverse that bad decision. If you look at Sodexo’s track record, I think it speaks for itself. Sodexo is for profit. Sodexo is not for students or for the workers. These folks are part of the community and Kenyon, in our opinion, hasn’t given justice to that being a part of why they work here and a part of who they are.”

Painter said the uncertainty as to what will happen with the workers is a concern. He said union is yet to have contact with Sodexo. “We have not talked with Sodexo,” he said. “We have not been given any person to contact by Sodexo. ... Given a choice between (Sodexo and Kenyon) would I want to deal with Sodexo as a company for profit or Kenyon College as an educational institution? I’d rather deal with Kenyon College.”

Other union workers were lending their support to Local 712. One group, Custodial and Grounds Workers Local 2794, represents about 55 Kenyon College employees. “We’re under contract with Kenyon for another two years,” Treasurer Tom Rieman said. “We’re supporting 712 because we are part of the maintenance department and it will mean a lot of changes for us, too. We are uncertain about our future, too.”

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