The Real Food, Real Jobs movement is going strong and supporters have a lot to celebrate. After a successful march and rally on U Street on March 1 in Washington, D.C., Howard University workers won a new contract with food service provider Sodexo on March 7. Members of UNITE HERE Local 23, Howard dining service workers will see an improvement in their working conditions, as well as an increase input to sustainability efforts on behalf of the university. Furthermore, the contract that was overwhelmingly approved has won workers the right to a sustainability oversight committee and access to more worker training.

Amelia Kalant, UNITE HERE senior research analyst, spoke with several workers involved in the contract negotiations.

“I am so excited by this agreement. I love real food, and I love these students,” said committee member Dorothy Samuels. “I tell everyone to eat health food, and now I have a way of sharing my experience with real cooking.” A longtime employee of Howard’s cafeteria, Jermaine Gaither, explained that the contract gives the workers even better ways of building skills to produce really good food for the students.

Workers will now also have access to affordable health care, greater guarantees of a 40-hour workweek and a wage increase.

Gallaudet and American universities dining service workers, employed by Bon Appetit Management Company, have already signed similar landmark agreements and as the fight continues, The Real Food, Real Jobs movement is hoping that Georgetown University Law Center, Georgetown University, George Washington University and Trinity Washington University will continue the standard of improving job and food quality across the district.

For the latest on the campaign, please visit www.RealFoodRealJobs.org.