The Student Labor Action Project hand-delivered a letter to UCF Chief Financial Officer William Merck’s office on Friday to protest Aramark’s controversial multi-million dollar contract extension.
The letter, obtained by Knight News, explains that the greatest grievance is the lack of transparency regarding the deal between the university and the food distributor that involves, among other things, a virtual monopoly on food services in the Student Union.
“The vote of the SGA President [Cait Zona] does not always reflect the views and needs of the majority of students, especially when the student body was given barely any information or time to consider this deal,” the letter said. “Since students have yet to see this contract, we are asking that you, our Chief Financial Officer, ensure that any necessary amendments are made before Aramark moves into our Student Union.”
Zona, in an e-mailed statement to Knight News, said that she voiced the concerns she received at the Board of Trustees meeting that saw the approval of the deal.
“Four weeks prior to the final Board of Trustees vote, I provided a report to the Student Senate regarding the Student Union Expansion and Aramark Contract. Seeing as each Senator represents 1,000 students, I felt confident that any questions or concerns would be brought to my attention. I have always made the students of whom I have the honor of representing the first priority of my administration,” she said.
The letter also mentions a public records request submitted by SLAP to access the details of the contract, but it is unclear if a contract currently exists. Knight News reached out to UCF spokesman Chad Binette but has not received a response.
The drop-off is the first of many planned direct actions to be launched by SLAP in its latest campaign. Besides having students sign petitions against the deal, the group also distributed pamphlets calling on students to boycott Aramark by avoiding on-campus convenience stores and restaurants that sell and serve products distributed by the company. It instead encourages students to seek unaffiliated dining options and to make use of university microwaves.
The petition itself calls for greater student input in the deal’s final contract. Among its demands, SLAP wants the public disclosure of any communications and decisions regarding the deal as well as the establishment of a student-run committee in charge of “[the] oversight of employment practices, food safety, price changes, and restaurant changes.” The group also call for increased protections for workers, including a negotiated minimum wage and a “guaranteed non-zero amount of shifts/hours per week.”
“What we’re really pushing for right now is to have that student voice, and not only to have it because of the Aramark [deal] in place,” SLAP President Ofelia Sanchez said. “Now that they are forced on our campus, students should be able to dictate how they operate here.”
As of Friday, over 70 students have signed petitions.
While the deal includes a $14.3 million investment to renovate and expand the Student Union, it was met with backlash by students and local business owners concerned with Aramark monopolizing food services both on the main campus as well as on the future downtown campus.
The Board of Trustees, of which Zona is a member, responded to the concerns by approving a proposal in November that would allow two local businesses to sublet in the Union, but under Aramark’s control.
Sanchez pointed to that concession as an argument toward the feasibility of an oversight committee.
“Because of the fact that we had a little more than 25 people come out to the meeting, they made a concession about local businesses staying on campus,” Sanchez said.
Zona insists, however, that she convinced the Board to consider that stipulation after receiving feedback by concerned senators.
“The concerns I received were voiced to the Board of Trustees. This included my assuring that two current business would be able to renew their contract,” Zona said.
