PITTSBURGH — Workers at Phipps Conservatory came together on Monday to ask why they’re being laid off at the start of the new year.
According to union officials, food service workers employed with Sodexo Live! were told their last day would be Jan. 12. The workers were apparently given no explanation for the layoff, and the action comes as workers have been organizing to form a union over the last few months.
The workers are now calling on Phipps to sit down and have a conversation about what’s happening.
“These are primarily students, single moms, folks who depend on these paychecks for their livelihoods and well beings, and it is incredibly disrespectful of the leadership of the Phipps Conservatory to leave them out in the dark and out in the cold and not actually explain what’s happening here,” Sam Williamson said.
Workers want Phipps to ensure employees will keep their jobs if the company is switching contractors.
Channel 11 has reached out to Phipps for comment, but has not yet heard back.
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