[Davis Democrats] FW: Support for contracted out workers at UC Davis

[John Chendo]

------ Forwarded Message
From: John Chendo <jac07 at dcn.org>
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 21:05:55 -0700

Subject: Support for contracted out workers at UC Davis

 To members of working families in the Democratic Party:


    If you wish to support the food service workers at UC Davis who are
contracted out, the attached sample letter may  be customized by each writer
who
writes--usually that would mean shortening it to one page.

    The attached letter leaves an open space to remind writers to give an
organizational affiliation--something that would attract the attention of
the reader--for example, mention if you are a member of American Legion,
Farm Bureau, Gunowners Association of America, NRA, Chamber of Commerce,
Concilio, UFW, Teamsters, Ironworkers, National Guard, California Nurses
Association, fired U.S. Attorneys, as well as Democratic Party.
 
    There are about 600 food service workers at UC Davis who are contracted
out. If these same food service workers were employed as UC employees, they
would be represented by a union. As it is now, UCDavis is the only UC campus
which is privatizing and contracting out its food service workers. The
outsourcing is to a multi-national French corporation,Sodexho. UC students
are paid about $7.50 per hour -- about two dollars  less per hour than the
wage that
UCDavis financial aid office expects of students who are working ($9.50).
Non-UC food service workers pay more than  $50 per week for health insurance
premiums (about 6 hours work per week). This is not a sustainable living
wage.

    Please write  the office of the University
Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef, or Vice-Chancellor Stan Nosek, Mrak Hall, UC
Davis,1 Shields Avenue,  Davis, California 95616
 to ask our public university to deal honorably with the basic right
of workers to bargain collectively and to be represented by a union. If you
prefer to phone, dial 530-752-1011, and follow the menu to reach the offices
of Chancellor Vanderhoef or Vice-Chancellor Nosek.

This is
important right now--you can help 300 working-class families reach the
middle-class and 300 students to get a fair shake from their own California
university.  Before this
school quarter ends  June 6. John C.