The termination of food service workers at Mount Allison University reported in CHMA’s March 1 story has some parallels to the situation at another New Brunswick university.
CHMA talks with Adrienne Paradis, a national servicing representative for CUPE, who shares the story of what happened last year when UNB, like Mount Allison, changed its food service provider without guaranteeing the collective agreement that was in place with its workers. Paradis says the onus is on universities to “do the right thing” and include requirements to respect union contracts when it issues Requests for Proposals.
Mount Allison University refused to comment when asked whether or not it could have prevented the mass firing of dining services workers by its outgoing contractor, Aramark Canada Ltd. The university says the procurement process for dining services is still ongoing.
