Sodexho Offers Its Side to Union Argument

We’d like to correct the inaccurate statements about our company provided by labor organizers in “Outsourcing Firms Focus of Unions” (June 22).

Contrary to what was stated, Sodexho unequivocally recognizes and respects the rights of our employees to unionize or not to unionize, as they may so elect. In fact, 13.2% of our U.S. employees are unionized.

We work with nearly every U.S. union, with more than 300 collective bargaining agreements, and enjoy positive, constructive relationships with all our employees and their union representatives.

It’s unfortunate that the unions referenced in your article -- the Service Employees International Union, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union and the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees -- are so desperate to attract members that they must resort to smear tactics and the high-pressure intimidation campaign they have launched against Sodexho and the other companies in our industry, in the process hurting the credibility of all unions.

SEIU, HERE and UNITE want to push out the other unions currently representing our employees. They don’t want to be our employees’ union of choice -- they want to be the only choice.

Leslie Aun

Vice President

Public Relations

Sodexho North America

Gaithersburg, Md.

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