On behalf of Justice for Sodexo Workers

On February 25, Justice for Sodexo Workers contacted resident district manager James Ruoff requesting a meeting. His answer stated: “due to the ongoing labor negotiations with the employees selected labor union we cannot share the requested information with you.” While it is the company’s right not to meet with us, it is disturbing that Sodexo is hiding behind the mystery of contract negotiations to keep student-customers in the dark about Sodexo campus operations.

Sodexo claims a “perfect storm” of events forced them to deny worker proposals for higher wages and better benefits. We contacted Mr. Ruoff with the hope of being better able to assess this claim.

Frankly, we find Sodexo’s claim of poverty dubious. They have a 10-year, $350 million contract with BU. Compared to off-campus companies, Sodexo has fewer overhead costs. For example, the University purchases much of the equipment Sodexo uses. To our knowledge, Sodexo does not pay for heat and electric. It is unclear how much – if anything – Sodexo pays in rent. Furthermore, Sodexo is also guaranteed customers due to its campus-wide monopoly, and a growing one at that.

The majority of Sodexo workers earn an average of $12,000 a year. Among all of the state universities food providers in the region, Sodexo services has the lowest-paid workers. In addition to paltry wages, Sodexo increased the amount employees pay for health insurance. This method of producing super-profits forces Sodexo workers to rely on public assistance to provide for their families, even though the majority are working full-time.

These facts describe a company that relies on government assistance to subsidize poverty wages and shrugs its responsibility to employees onto the community. This is disrespectful, not only to employees, but to the University as well. BU has a noble mission to enrich the lives of people in the region and state. This task demands that it partners with businesses that take social responsibility seriously and reinvests in the community.

If Sodexo receives $35 million annually, plus all the money students, faculty, staff and visitors spend in Sodexo’s pay-for-service locations like Jazzman’s and the Marketplace, is subsidized by the University, has a growing captive customer base and relies on public assistance to fill out its workers’ paychecks, then how exactly can they not afford to give a little more to their workers?

While we understand that Sodexo is under no obligation to answer our questions, we trust that Sodexo will want the questions of those who use their services daily answered. ​

Andrew Pragacz is a Ph.D. candidate studying sociology.