University community protest USC contractor Aramark’s cleaning staff wages

More than 30 university employees, community activists and students marched through campus on Wednesday in support of better wages and benefits for the university’s cleaning staff, calling on the university to intervene in a labor dispute involving one of its contractors.

Cleaning staff is employed through Aramark, a service worker giant whose contract with its staff expires at the end of Thursday. Their expiring contract was last negotiated in 2018.

“USC is a very powerful institution, so if they want to be involved, as they should be, if they want to pressure Aramark, they definitely can,” said Yasmin Kadir, a student and university employee who participated in Wednesday’s protest. “They have the most power here out of anyone. They’re employing Aramark.”

The university declined to comment and referred questions to Aramark.

Currently Aramark is offering employees a $0.30 increase in wages, the equivalent of $2.40 a day, according to David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union - United Service Workers West.

Aramark said in an email that it wants to continue to work with the union toward a new contract.

“We respect the right of our employees to demonstrate and look forward to continuing to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement that works for everyone,” the company said.

Aramark employees at USC and union representatives said they plan to meet with Aramark personnel on Thursday. Should an agreement not be made, Huerta said workers may strike.

“I’ve been here for 25 years, everything [is] getting more and more expensive, and I think it’s not fair,” said Angel Mancillas, a member of the Aramark cleaning staff at Waite Phillips Hall. “We deserve respect.”