A group of workers at the Burnaby campus of SFU are part of a new agreement that’s been years in the making.
The food service workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, have ratified a “standard-setting” union contract with Compass Group by an over 85% yes vote, said the union in a news release.
Some food service employees will be earning close to 17% wage increases over the next three years.
“With this new agreement, workers will receive the biggest raises in the history of SFU, ultimately getting them to a living wage,” said the release.
The union bargaining committee achieved their collective agreement after workers rallied at SFU just a few weeks prior.
“As inflation across the Lower Mainland has dramatically risen over the years, the new contract provides a living wage and improved working conditions for over 150 workers,” said the union.
Along with “historic” wage increases, workers will see improvements to their medical benefits, a process for discussing access to SFU benefits — as accessed by direct SFU employees — and stronger recall protections in case of natural disasters or emergency situations such as COVID-19 so no one loses seniority due to stoppage of business, said the union.
“I’m proud that SFU food service workers came together and fought hard to win what we deserve,” said Nouha Ishaq, a food service worker at SFU for 17 years. “It feels good to know people will have more money in their pockets. We don’t know later on what the future will bring, but for now we did our best together as a union. We were persistent in this fight and showed we’re not giving up to create a better future for food service workers. I look forward to going back to work and serving the university community.”
