Share this...
An overwhelming majority, 97%, of Loyola Aramark union members voted in favor of authorizing a strike, as Aramark has denied their demands for higher wages, 40-hour schedules and a guarantee in health insurance during layoffs, according to a message from the union.
The April 11 vote came following April 7 contract negotiations between the union and Aramark, in which Aramark didn’t meet the union’s demand for higher wages and improved benefits for employees. Aramark did offer a $1.75 hourly wage increase, less than what union advocates argue is needed for workers to better support themselves.
Further negotiations between union members and Aramark occurred April 14, with a potential strike looming. According to a source privy to the negotiations, union leaders were unable to obtain their desired contract.
Dione Moore, Aramark higher education central region district manager, declined to comment on negotiations.
Jose Salas, a utility worker in Damen Dining Hall, said he was proud of his coworkers for taking the step to authorize a strike.
“None of us want to go on strike and stop feeding the students, but if that is what is necessary to be treated equally with university food service workers at Northwestern University and Depaul University, then that is what we will do,” he said.
In October 2021, dining workers at DePaul University and Northwestern University — both represented by UNITE HERE Local 1 — signed new contracts which increased their hourly wage to...
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday (April 6, 2026) accused Congress of unleashing a “foreign-influenced misinformation campaign” against him and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma ahead ...