Outsourcing may affect Dining Services

Executive Director of Hospitality Services Donald Jacobs said "outsourcing certainly would affect" employees of Dining Services -- including approximately 40 managers, 125 union employees, 100 part-time employees, and 200 student employees. Jacobs and other Dining Services officials said they have no idea if or when the University would bring in an outside company to take over their services. But many employees are concerned about this uncertainty. Last week Executive Vice President John Fry said that "everything will be considered" for outsourcing possibilities at the University. Provost Stanley Chodorow explained outsourcing as one of the options the University is considering for specific administrative or business services. "The core functions of Penn are teaching, research, and many student services -- we will never outsource those functions," Chodorow said. "But there are services that the University provides or that support the core functions that might be better done by an outside company than a University office." Aramark, a Philadelphia-based company which outsources dining services for over 300 colleges and universities, has expressed interest in the University. However, after spending half his career working for Aramark, Jacobs said he does not feel outsourcing is always negative. "There seems to be a possibility of Penn going in that direction," Jacobs said. The employees have been told to be positive, especially because there are similar situations in other University departments, according to Dining Services/Hospitality Services Department Secretary Elizabeth Mehan Calter. She explained that employees have been told that whatever is most beneficial for the University is also the most beneficial for the department. "Personally, I am not that worried about my position because I have the option of retiring early," Calter said. "Whatever happens -- happens." Other people employed by Dining Services do not feel the same security. Dining Services employee Tony Cosby, a union member for 26 years, said he has been hearing rumors about the possibility of outsourcing. He said that many dining employees are among the oldest workers on campus. "My daughter graduates from high school next year. I have earned benefits, by working here for 26 years, for her to go to college," Cosby said. "If they outsource dining, my benefits will be jeopardized." Another dining employee who said she has worked for the University for over 30 years also fears outsourcing. Though she wished to remain anonymous, she said she would not be surprised if Penn decided to bring in outside companies. "We would be lucky to keep our jobs and we already can hardly make ends meet with what we make now," she said. "I guess we'll have to try to get by any way we could."

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