Aramark warns of possible local layoffs
Aramark Corp., the Philadelphia company that provides catering services to convention centers in Boston, has notified the commonwealth of Massachusetts that it may have to lay off about 475 local workers if it is unable to remain as the catering services provider at the facilities after Dec. 31.
In notifying the commonwealth by letter, Jack O'Brien, president of Aramark Convention Centers, expressed optimism that ongoing discussions "may result in an extension of our existing business relationship."
"This filing should be seen as the fulfillment of a legal obligation and not as an indicator of our future plans," Kristine Grow, Aramark's director of communications, said. "We would very much like to continue our services to the convention centers."
The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which operates the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the John B. Hynes Memorial Convention Center, made available a written message to authority employees from the authority's executive director, James E. Rooney. Rooney's message today referenced Aramark and Unite Here! Local 26, the union that represents Aramark's food and beverage workers at the convention centers.
Aramark current contract offer "would be a significant improvement over Local 26’s present day contract," Rooney said in that message. "To date, Local 26 has rejected Aramark’s offer. It is our hope that Aramark and Local 26 can continue negotiations in the coming weeks toward a settlement of their differences that will allow Aramark to in turn to accept the MCCA’s offer, which includes significant financial incentives designed to remove the existing uncertainty and continue Aramark’s operations at the BCEC and the Hynes."
An attempt to reach Local 26 was not immediately successful.
Banquet workers at the two convention centers recently filed a lawsuit that alleges that Aramark and the convention center authority violated state tipping laws. Please click here to read a Globe story about that lawsuit. A call to the workers' attorney wasn't immediately returned.
Separately, Unidine Corp., a privately held food service management company in Newton, said today it will be the exclusive catering and concessions provider for the 2008 US Green Building Council's annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from Nov. 19 through Nov. 21.
In September, the convention center authority, in a bid to soothe labor tensions between Aramark and Local 26, granted the Green Building Council's request for a caterer other than Aramark at the conference. To read a Globe story about that decision, please click here. Unidine was selected from among a group of national food service providers based on its ability to meet the conference's strict green guidelines. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is scheduled to attend the conference, and there was concern that he might stay away if the union picketed the event. A convention authority spokesman today described the decision to hire Unidine for the event as a "one-time agreement."
In a press release focused on the upcoming Greenbuild conference, Unidine said: "Greenbuild is the largest conference and expo dedicated to sustainable building practices and, with an estimated 30,000 attendees, will be the largest conference the BCEC has held. Unidine will provide a wide variety of meals that will feature organic and locally grown foods and incorporate sustainable and eco-friendly food preparation and disposal. All packaging, paper products, signage, and cutlery will be made from natural materials and fully biodegradable. In addition, leftover foods will go to local food pantries, waste to local farms for use as feed, and cooking oils recycled as biofuels."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)
