Cafeteria workers protest at Lab
Call for staff and scientists to boycott food at Brookhaven National
4 comments below
Food service workers are calling on Brookhaven National Laboratory employees to boycott its cafeteria as a show of solidarity while their union's leadership negotiates a new labor contract with their management company.
The workers, who are subcontractors working for a private company that provides food service for the lab, had a contract that expired in September, 2007 with Nayyarsons Corporation of New Hyde Park, said Evelyn Freese, a shop steward with Unite Here! Local 100, a collective bargaining unit that represents the cafeteria's workers involved in food preparation and service. Ms. Freese, a resident of Bellport, said members began picketing near the laboratory's entrance nine days ago after negotiations between the union's representatives and Nayyarsons arrived at an impasse. The workers, she said, have not had a contract for about 20 months. Nayyarsons had agreed to a new contract several months ago, but then changed the stipulations in April, she said.
The new contract seeks to reduce workers' hours, which would endanger the benefits and make it hard for single parents and the elderly to get by, Ms. Frees said. In response, the workers have chosen to protest every day, albeit after the cafeteria closes, and have asked for a boycott by lab workers as a show of solidarity as opposed to engaging in a full-scale strike.
At least two dozen cafeteria workers shared similar sentiments with a reporter Monday afternoon outside the lab's entrance at Upton Boulevard. A prepared sound track featuring classic songs such as "Nobody Does It Better," by Carly Simon and Queen's "We are the Champions" served as inspiration, workers said, as they called out to lab employees asking for support. Some workers waved picket signs, while others held up an American flag and distributed yellow flyers displaying a clenched fist holding a fork, the union's logo.
Susan Campbell, a worker who lives in Ridge, said that some positions have not been filled for more than six months, forcing workers to take on extra burdens during the busiest hours.
"We worked like mules today," Ms. Campbell said.
"I'm in this business 30 years. I've never seen anything like this," she said.
Ms. Freese said the employees are seeking a pay raise, additional employees to help reduce the workload for already overburdened workers and no reduction in hours.
"They expect everyone to tow the line," she said. "You can't make that kind of a decision from a corporate office miles away."
Nayyarsons' Chief Executive Officer, Anil Nayyar, said the negotiations have been ongoing, but a new contract, which was sent to the workers last month, has not been approved by the union's representatives. He said there is no specific language in the contract about decreased hours, but rather a staggered schedule, which would allow management to send employees home on a graduated basis during the slow months in the winter. Mr. Nayyar said the move would be necessary since the business has seen a decrease in profits with the downturn in the economy.
"It is equally important that the BNL Community understands that the negotiations are continuing and that we are eager to find a mutually beneficial solution that will provide our employees with a fair contract, while at the same time helping provide the BNL community with excellent food quality, service and fair pricing," Mr. Nayyar said.
In a prepared statement, lab spokesman Peter Genzer said that the lab's cafeteria is operated under a contract between the lab and Nayyarsons Corporation, a private food-service company.
"Nayyarsons is engaged in a labor dispute with its employees, some of whom provide services under the BNL contract," the statement said. "While the lab is not involved in the negotiations, we hope the parties involved can reach a satisfactory agreement in the near future."
Mr. Genzer declined any further comment on the issue.
As for the workers, they remain hopeful an agreement will be reached.
"All we want is a fair deal," Ms. Campbell said.
peggy@northshoresun.com
The Riverhead News-Review is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Riverhead News-Review does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Riverhead News-Review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Service and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
4 comments found
Honk if you love Jimmy : 5/22/2009
If it wanted to keep employees on campus during lunchtime, BNL might consider offering better quality food, more variety, and better prices. The fact that BNL employees have begun a mass exodus during lunchtime to patronize off-campus establishments, and to find decent food at a decent cost, should be a warning to those who manage the food service that something needs to be done to improve this situation.
Honk if you love Jimmy! : 5/21/2009
If they wanted to keep employees on campus during lunchtime, BNL might consider offering better quality food, more variety, and better prices. The fact that BNL employees have begun a mass exodus during lunchtime to patronize off-campus establishments, and to find decent food at a decent cost, should be a warning to those who manage the food service that something needs to be done to improve ths situation.
Replace Nayyarsons. : 5/21/2009
I have already been boycotting the cafeteria for the last year because of the overpriced, poor quality food that Nayyarsons has been trying to sell the Lab employees!
strike : 5/21/2009
I just wish they'd get decent food in there for a reasonable price finally!
