Aug 18, 2008
political politcal science
Below is a message from the president of the American Political Science Association, which appears to take the side of union workers "site unseen."
Dear APSA Member:
The Annual Meeting is upon us and all the necessary preparations for a challenging and successful program have been made.
If you are attending the Boston meeting you will learn of a labor action involving the food and beverage provider in the Hynes Convention Center. You may question how the labor action will bear on the Association’s ability to provide the needed services for a successful meeting.
The labor dispute between Local 26 of UNITE HERE and the Aramark Corporation involves food and beverage services at the Hynes. APSA has arranged to have no service contracts with Aramark and will not be using them for any food functions in the Hynes Center. There are no labor disputes involving the Hynes Center itself, or the conference hotels. All food functions have been moved to the Sheraton and Marriott hotels, which are not facing labor disputes. Local 26 has responded positively to this, and we understand they will refrain from demonstrations during our 2008 Annual Meeting. APSA has taken these steps consistent with Council policy adopted in Fall of 2007 stating that the Association "shall make every effort to give preference to a suitable unionized hotel and/or service provider, cost considerations being otherwise equal." and to assure access to and availability of services fo r members at the meeting. While these food and beverage matters arose quite late in our planning for the meeting, we are confident that the arrangements we have made for the meeting will provide full services for attendees without added cost and will allow attendance at the meeting without encountering labor disputes.
Sincerely,
Dianne Pinderhughes, President
Dear APSA Member:
The Annual Meeting is upon us and all the necessary preparations for a challenging and successful program have been made.
If you are attending the Boston meeting you will learn of a labor action involving the food and beverage provider in the Hynes Convention Center. You may question how the labor action will bear on the Association’s ability to provide the needed services for a successful meeting.
The labor dispute between Local 26 of UNITE HERE and the Aramark Corporation involves food and beverage services at the Hynes. APSA has arranged to have no service contracts with Aramark and will not be using them for any food functions in the Hynes Center. There are no labor disputes involving the Hynes Center itself, or the conference hotels. All food functions have been moved to the Sheraton and Marriott hotels, which are not facing labor disputes. Local 26 has responded positively to this, and we understand they will refrain from demonstrations during our 2008 Annual Meeting. APSA has taken these steps consistent with Council policy adopted in Fall of 2007 stating that the Association "shall make every effort to give preference to a suitable unionized hotel and/or service provider, cost considerations being otherwise equal." and to assure access to and availability of services fo r members at the meeting. While these food and beverage matters arose quite late in our planning for the meeting, we are confident that the arrangements we have made for the meeting will provide full services for attendees without added cost and will allow attendance at the meeting without encountering labor disputes.
Sincerely,
Dianne Pinderhughes, President