​LOC staff turn tables on cafeteria workers

Cafeteria workers at the Library of Congress usually feed the people who work there. Now the tables have been turned. The cafeterias at the Library are closed until further notice and 29 food service workers, all employees of the contractor I.L. Creations, were laid off at the beginning of the pandemic last March. Their health insurance benefits were terminated on July 31, and their extended unemployment benefits run out this month. Library staff, members of AFSCME 2910, AFSCME 2477 and IFPTE Local 75, along with retirees and others, raised just over $62,000 over the last few weeks, enough to give each of the cafeteria workers – members of Unite Here Local 23 -- a $2,100 gift card. “I am completely blown away by how much you were able to raise and cannot overstate how much this means to workers,” said Jesse Seitel, Lead Organizer for Local 23. “Without a new stimulus deal, our workers are mostly living on $300 per week and so $2,100 will be the difference in being able to afford food, rent, and other essentials for survival.... Thank you very much for your solidarity and support!” Read more here.