RALLY IN SUPPORT OF ARAMARK EMPLOYEESIMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mario A. Marin

Phone:(708) 953-6808

Email:

Labor, Immigrant, and Community groups rally IN SUPPORT OF ARAMARK EMPLOYEES FIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN THE WORKPLACE

WHAT:Rally in support ofAramarkemployees fight for justice in the workplace.

WHO:Representatives from the Madison and Midwestern labor movement, immigrant rights movement, faith community and other community organizations

WHEN:Friday, August 17that 1:30 P.M.

WHERE:Aramarklocated at 1212 N Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI

The Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United is calling for a rally in support ofAramarkworkers fight for respect and justice in the workplace. The rally will be held on August 17, 2012 in the tradition of labor’s historical fights to secure worker’s rights as well as respect and dignity in the work place. Participants will assemble at 1:30 P.M. at theAramarklocated at 1212 N Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI.

Union members of the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United (C.M.R.J.B.) working at ARAMARK laundry are in the midst of a struggle to make their employer ARAMARK CORPORATION respect them and their Union contract.

In 2011, ARAMARK rolled out ARAMARK Production Excellence (APEX) which is a process similar to other work space “efficiency” and “effectiveness” concepts.With APEX came drastic and unreasonable production rate standards imposed on the workers unilaterally. The aftermath caused by Apex’s implementation has included workers being terminated and disciplined at an astonishing rate and has made it extremely difficult for workers to reach production goals necessary to receive incentive earnings.

ARAMARK has also unilaterally changed the terms and conditions for all workers by implementing a new attendance policy which directly violates the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Mario Marin Area Director for the Wisconsin State Council ofC.M.R.J.B.has categorized the on goings at ARAMARK as “A lack of respect. It's a lack of respect towards the workers ofAramarkand the Union. We have attempted to work with the Employer to resolve these and other issues, but from what it looks like, they prefer to fight, so, we are bringing the fight to their front door.”

ARAMARK, profitable company ranked #204 on the 2012 Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations has also remained consistent at the negotiating table in its refusal to offer decent wage increases while asking for workers to sacrifice.

On August 17th, we will rally in solidarity, labor, immigrant, interfaith, students and workers, from all the neighborhoods of Madison and the Midwest to demand:

An end to the APEX program.

Elimination of the new attendance policy.

Stop imposing unilateral changes to terms and conditions of the workforce.

Fairday'swagesfor afairday'swork.

JUSTICE IN THE WORKPLACE!