Unite Here Local 23 Launches City-Wide Contract Fight

The first public action of Unite Here Local 23’s city-wide contract fight takes place today at 1p. The target is I.L. Creations, one of the main providers of food for federal employees in the DC region. Serving food in 16 federal government cafeterias, I.L. Creations serves tens of thousands of government workers every day. “Unfortunately, I.L. Creations’ business and employment practices are not what you might expect of a Federal contractor,” reports Local 23. Last November, an arbitrator ruled against I.L. Creations, and in his decision said the following: “[IL Creations’] personnel decisions at USDA appear to favor Caucasian and Asians and disfavor Black Americans. … we are beyond the time when an employer could say with impunity, ‘if you're black stand back.’“ I.L. Creations has still failed to implement the changes ordered by the arbitrator, even though a federal district court judge enforced the arbitration award. Local 23 has also filed charges against I.L. Creations with the National Labor Relations Board.

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