Dining proposals released to public
January 10, 2006
Proposals for the privatization of dining services from three private firms and ISU Dining outline plans to retain current ISU Dining employees without pay reduction.
Proposals from ARAMARK, Sodexho and Chartwells were made available for public viewing Monday.
Sodexho’s proposal promised a smooth transition that would allow all current ISU Dining employees current wages.
According to the proposal, “Two significant concerns for employees in any transition are payroll and benefits . We are proposing to leave all of the full-time employees on university payroll with no change in benefits or wages.”
FASTTRAK
Last we knew: Proposals from private bidders for the ISU Dining operations were due to be submitted to the university Dec. 16. Proposals from Chartwells, Sodexho, ARAMARK and ISU Dining, were received by the university.
The Latest: Proposals have had all proprietary information removed, and were made available to the public for viewing beginning Monday. All four proposals propose the renovation of the Oak-Elm and Maple-Willow-Larch dining centers. All proposals state they will maintain current wages and work force levels, and will keep all current employees.
What’s next: An advisory committee is evaluating the bids and will recommend the best proposal to Thomas Hill, vice president for student affairs, and Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance.
Despite promises from the companies to keep wages and employment consistent, an ISU Dining employee said she would prefer to keep food service a university-owed entity.
“I would rather stick with ISU Dining,” said Janice Grove, food service coordinator for the Courtyard Cafe. “I think they know what works and what doesn’t, and it has been very good to me.”
The ISU Dining proposal made similar statements about retention of current workers.
According to the proposal, “ISU Dining’s current management staff will be retained as university employees if ISU Dining is awarded the contract.” The proposal also included a promise to keep student and merit employees on payroll.
Rachel Vorm, sophomore in graphic design and Design Cafe employee, said although she likes working under the current management structure, she would still work under a private corporation.
“I guess I’d still work there because I still need money and a job, but it just wouldn’t be as pleasing, I guess,” she said.
All four proposals also announced plans to renovate or improve both the dining centers at Maple-Willow-Larch and Oak-Elm.
ISU Dining’s proposal outlined a plan to add a two-story glass addition to Maple-Willow-Larch that would open in 2009 and begin a renovation of Oak-Elm in 2010.
ARAMARK, Chartwells and Sodexho all outlined plans to begin renovations on the two dining centers by 2008.
