The Emory Dining employees are part of the Emory community. We look at the students as our family. We serve the student body on a daily basis and get to know many of them on a personal level, from checking on classes to asking about friends and family. The recent concerns about our treatment mean much to us. We truly appreciate that the students want us to be taken care of, but a union is not the right solution. We feel that many students are missing important facts about the benefits that Sodexo offers Emory Dining employees.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics states that as of May 2008, the mean hourly wage is $8.97 for food preparation and serving related occupations in Georgia. Sodexo pays the Emory Dining employees a living wage which is re-evaluated yearly and increased if needed. For example, in October of 2006, Sodexo was paying Emory Dining employees $9.75 an hour. As of October 2009, Sodexo employees at Emory University are not paid less than $10.50 an hour, well above the mean in Georgia. Please keep in mind that this is just a starting wage. Many of the positions start above this rate. In addition, we are given annual raises to account for our time, hard work and dedication as employees.

Beyond our salary, Sodexo offers four different health insurance plans for employees, should they elect to enroll. We are offered dental and vision coverage, as well as the ability to cover our domestic partners. Students can learn more about benefits that Sodexo offers and view an employee handbook at www.iamsodexo.com.

The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, including vacations, sick leave, or federal and other holidays. However, Sodexo gives Emory Dining employees paid sick leave and paid vacation time. These benefits are matters of agreement between an employer and an employee. At Sodexo, Emory Dining employees receive a week of paid sick leave and two weeks of paid vacation after the first year of work.

Sodexo goes beyond health insurance and paid leave, offering numerous benefits to their employees. Each worker receives two free uniforms, a free pair of non-slip shoes and a free meal for each shift that we work. In addition, we receive Kroger gift cards for Christmas, and we have a year-end celebration where gifts such as TVs, gift cards, iPods and Nintendo Wiis are raffled off.

Also, if employees decide to return to school and take classes or programs to increase their education, tuition reimbursement is available.

We appreciate the students wanting to help us and that they are concerned about our welfare. However, the simple price of $50 a month for the union is a disadvantage to us because there is much more that we could do with that money to improve our way of life. That $50 could become more groceries, more clothing or more money for rent. We feel the $50 is the loss of our individual voice and should a pay increase occur, a higher amount of money to be paid in dues each month since dues are a percentage of our salary.

Thank you for your concerns in our work environment. In these situations, it is important to take into consideration all of the facts, and in some instances a union may be beneficial. As Emory Dining employees, we do not feel that this measure is needed. We are deeply touched to see how you view us as a part of your community and your family.

Allison Arcos, Suzanne Barner, Kymetha Cobb, Whitney Ivey and Lucy Watts are all employed by Sodexo.