Workers say Sky Chef is dragging its feet in contract talks

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4600

By Michael Moore
25 August 2010

BLOOMINGTON - Workers who prepare, package and provide the in-flight food served by airlines like Delta, are mobilizing a public campaign to get their employer, LSG-Sky Chefs, to negotiate in earnest with their union, UNITE HERE.

The two sides officially have been in talks since last October on a new master agreement covering the 6,600 members of UNITE HERE who work at Sky Chefs. But workers, about two dozen of whom rallied outside the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport on Aug. 19, say the company’s refusal to budge on economic issues has halted meaningful negotiations – and has poisoned workplace morale.

John Munsen, an equipment-sanitation coordinator with 23 years of experience working for Sky Chefs, said the two sides “are deadlocked on economics.”

“It took us roughly 10 months just to do the non-economic language, which, to us, it’s meaningless,” Munsen said. “Safety shoes are fine, but stuff like that doesn’t really affect our lives, our families. From this point on its all economics, and we’re at a standstill.”


Sky Chefs workers send a message at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Photo by Michael Moore

Munsen, one of more than 400 Twin Cities-based Sky Chefs workers who are members of UNITE HERE Local 17, said workers stepped up to the plate when Sky Chefs appeared headed for bankruptcy four years ago, agreeing to wage and benefit cuts to help keep the company afloat.

FULL story at link.

Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.stpaulunions.org