Allentown, PA — Workers United members at Muhlenberg College yesterday overwhelmingly ratified their first contract covering 120 dining workers.

Muhlenberg College dining workers won their union campaign in December after having gone public just one month prior. Workers began organizing following a pattern of low wages; disrespect from management; unaffordable health insurance; and inconsistent scheduling.

Now, workers are celebrating a union contract with Sodexo, which ensures affordable healthcare coverage, wage increases averaging $3.00 over the 3-year contract, guaranteed holiday pay, a grievance procedure to make sure workers are treated fairly, and more.

Evan Hallman, Muhlenberg Dining Workers United, said:

“It really feels like it's a dam, and then all a sudden, a whole flood comes out. It's not about me, it's not about you, it's about us. The raises in our contract are lifechanging. Muhlenberg Dining Workers won't have to live in constant anxiety over how we will get by week to week.

The new insurance we have makes healthcare so much more accessible. I have medical conditions that require regular treatment and with this contract, that will be more affordable. My coworkers with families will have better coverage for their spouses and kids. It feels like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders.”

The campus community was integral to the success of the Dining Workers’ campaign, with students forming their own Muhlenberg Student Solidarity Committee. The committee organized rallies, tabled on campus to educate their peers, and ran a petition campaign which garnered 700 signatures, roughly half of the entire student body.

Felice Cragin, Muhlenberg Student Solidarity Committee, said:

“Muhlenberg students supported the dining workers in their fight for a fair contract because they are a part of our community and because they make eating in the dining hall and GQ a really happy experience. Everyone deserves the right to affordable health insurance and fair pay. We want our dining workers to know how important they are to us and how much we want them to be treated like the vital community members they are.”

Muhlenberg College is the latest to join a union wave among Pennsylvania college and university food service workers. Since 2019, dining workers at the University of Scranton, East Stroudsburg University, Clarion University, and Kutztown University have all organized unions with Workers United.