This follows the previous open letter sent to Sodexo.

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Released: 21 June 2011

Largest Students’ Union in Europe Votes to Boycott Sodexo

The 120,000-member University of London Union votes to block Soldexo contracts

Contact: Ashok Kumar, London School of Economics

Earlier today, Tuesday June 21st, the University of London Union (ULU) voted unanimously to institute a boycott of Sodexo for “gross violations of workers’ rights”. Recent reports by Human Rights Watch, the TransAfrica Forum, a Commission of Enquiry in Colombia and United Students’ Against Sweatshops have documented a consistent pattern of noncompliance with basic International Labour Organisation standards by Sodexo, a private contractor at University of London Universities and Unions.

The motion follows the recent breaking of Sodexo contracts at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and boycotts that have begun at Unions across the UK including at the University of the Arts – London and Birkbeck College. ULU is the largest students’ union in Europe with millions of pounds of contracts to service its 120,000 members, and owns its own shops, music venue, delis, restaurants, bars and gym. ULU senate consists of the presidents from the 22 students unions representing every University of London University.

Clare Solomon, President of ULU said, “This boycott is one concrete step toward corporate accountability. This motion says that ULU will not sit idly by while our comrades in the US get arrested and workers around the world are denied their basic human rights. To Sodexo: this is only the beginning.”

Sean Rillo-Raczka, Chair of Birkbeck Students’ Union said, “Unlike our comrades in the US, UK Students' Union own, operate and generate revenue from most on-campus commercial services. More and more students’ unions are coming to realise the disgusting behavior of Sodexo and that will lead to more cutting of contracts.”

Charlotte Gerada, General Secretary of the London School of Economics, said “We stand in solidarity with workers across the world in telling Sodexo that they are not welcome until the demands of workers are met.”

The Motion directs ULU to work with United Students’ Against Sweatshops (USAS) to prioritise a campaign to end all Sodexo contracts in the UK.

The motion resolves to “publicly condemn Sodexo and refuse all contracts, contractors who subcontract to Sodexo, until the following demands are met:

1. Rehire fired workers in the Dominican Republic

2. Begin bargaining with workers in Colombia and their union Sinaltrainal.

3. Agree to bargain with workers in the US through the method of their choice.

4. Publicly commit to end poverty wages for Sodexo workers in the U.S.