The House is revamping its dining options. Will workers keep their jobs?

As new food vendors prepare to set up shop at the Capitol complex this summer, current workers say many in their ranks have not received offers to keep their jobs.

The House chief administrative officer in May announced that a slate of eateries will take over starting this August, including a Starbucks replacing the existing Dunkin’, a QDOBA, Panera and more. Some cheered the news as a sign that the House was turning the page on a lackluster dining era.

But members of Unite Here Local 23, the union representing nearly 200 House food service workers currently employed by Sodexo, said the decision was made without considering them. And with just a few weeks before the changes take effect, many are wondering if they’ll still have jobs come next month.

“We have no idea … what all of this is going to look like,” said Porshia McCullum, who has been with Sodexo on the Hill since 2019 and is a union steward. “It’s stressful coming to work for me, because people want answers.”

Sodexo’s departure wasn’t necessarily a shock to the workforce, according to the union. The French catering giant was reaching the end of its agreement with the House this year, and Jesse Seitel, an organizing director at Unite Here, said the union was aware that the contract was out for bid. But he said there’s been little communication from the CAO or from most of the new vendors coming in.

A CAO spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Wednesday that hiring decisions were at the “sole discretion of the incoming vendors.”

“The incoming vendors have been encouraged to consider retaining Sodexo staff who are interested in remaining in the House as many have great insights into House food service operations and clientele,” the spokesperson said. “It is the CAO’s understanding that many offers have been made and accepted to date with additional offers expected in the coming weeks.”

As of Wednesday, Metz Culinary Management — which will run the cafeterias in the Longworth, Rayburn and Ford office buildings — has extended some offers to current Sodexo employees, although the union didn’t know how many of their workers would be rehired. Metz did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Trade Center Management Associates, which will handle in-house catering orders starting in August, said the company intends to recognize Unite Here Local 23 “as the representative of catering bargaining unit employees” and has reached out to the union.

“We intend on hiring current employees and, in fact, have participated in a job fair, received applications, and have already conducted interviews with many of the staff members,” Jacie Roberts Lallis, vice president of marketing and communications for TCMA, said via email on Tuesday.

But the union said it’s gotten no such assurance from the other vendors, which include Elite Management Group, CHA Street Food, Jimmy John’s, Black Crown Collective and Java House/PX Tacos. None of those vendors responded to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, roughly 100 workers and supporters gathered Wednesday evening south of Rayburn at the Spirit of Justice Park. Many held signs that said “Am I getting fired?” The rally was meant to put pressure on all vendors to rehire the workforce in corresponding roles, recognize the union and maintain the union contract, which was ratified last year and included a pay bump, health care and retirement benefits.

Ruben Fernandez, who said he’s worked in the House for three years and currently works in catering, said he is one of the union members who hasn’t yet gotten an offer to keep his job.

“It’s a big problem for me because I need to pay my mortgage, I need to eat, I need to pay my insurance,” Fernandez said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., made an appearance in support of the union workers on Wednesday, along with Democratic Reps. Glenn F. Ivey of Maryland and Donald S. Beyer Jr. of Virginia.

“They’re new people coming in with an investment, with some new ideas. Great. But you can’t kick out the workers who have created the success of these restaurants and of the culture here on Capitol Hill,” said Raskin, who was part of a group of more than 100 Democratic lawmakers who sent a letter in June to the vendors echoing the union’s demands.

Unite Here Local 23 also represents food service workers on the Senate side of the complex, who ratified a contract with Restaurant Associates in 2022.

The slow trickle of job offers has led some to speculate the union contract could be scaring off vendors. According to the union, workers have a starting hourly wage of $22.15, which would have increased to $24.15 by the end of the contract term.

“Imagine a company coming in and we’re already so far exceeding the minimum wage,” McCullum said. “I kind of feel like they would rather bring in new people who they don’t have to give benefits to, that they can pay the minimum wage.”

Union leaders pointed to a local law that protects some workers against displacement when contracts change hands. Seitel did not rule out taking legal action if the vendors don’t comply.

“We’re going to pursue every legal, political and direct action strategy that we need to,” Seitel said. “We’ve had conversations about lawsuits, and I think you’ll hear more from us soon about that.”

The House cafeterias and eateries are frequented by lawmakers, staff, journalists and visitors during busy legislative sessions. While the recent job offers are encouraging, morale has flagged as uncertainty looms.

“These are some of the best food service jobs in the city. People are proud of these jobs,” Seitel said. “People love their jobs. They love serving members of the House, they love the environment, and they love food service. To not have the guarantees that they’ll keep their job and they’ll keep their health insurance is definitely having an impact on the workforce.”

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