Outsourcing Custodial/Dining Workforce
Posted Thursday, February 20, 2020 03:54 PM


Here’s some recent news. See also Les Leopold's post in the thread "Oberlin's anti-union drive," linking to a statement signed by hundreds of alumni.

President Ambar has announced:

“Oberlin has notified the United Auto Workers that we are formally considering contracting with outside vendors for dining and custodial services currently provided by college employees. … Each year that goes by without fully securing financial sustainability reduces the options available to Oberlin.” The hope is that these changes might save $2 million a year.

Ted Morgan ’68 posted on the Class of 1968 website:

“I consider this an outrageous violation of Oberlin's long-time commitment to (learning and) Labor, as well as its values of social justice and taking care of the family of employees. Furthermore, the people who will be absorbing the brunt of this change (if they go to work for the outsourced groups, they would be about $10,000 worse off) — not a great PR move for the college vis a vis the town, in the aftermath of the Gibson's fiasco. It would be good, I think, for us (and class of '69, and others) to send some form of collective letter to Ambar protesting this! Please let me know if interested. I've posted a screen shot from Political Science Professor Chris Howell.”

Excerpts from other comments on the 1968 website:

Paula Gordon writes, “I am a loyal Union Member (for 4+ decades) AND still am a LOT less enthusiastic about Ted's response than others appear to be. President Ambar has been absolutely transparent about ALL of this. She is crystal clear that this will NOT be ‘easy.’ … I applaud the BOARD's wisdom, as well as President Ambar's unenviable position of implementing it."

Bill Natale writes, “A dose of realism might be consumed at this point. What exactly is the school to do? And what exactly are we to do, other than sign a petition of some sort memorializing our concern? Are we willing, as an alumni group, to meaningfully challenge Oberlin by upping our average annual giving so as to match the cost-savings of out-sourcing, provided the College retains its long term employees? … How can we ask Oberlin to be generous with scarce funds if we are not prepared to be so ourselves?”