PITTSBURGH — Around 40 people lost their jobs Sunday after workers say Phipps Conservatory allowed their contract to run out.
Brayden Caffrey, 22, has been out of a job for about a week now. He was contracted to set up catering events at Phipps Conservatory.
“It’s been pretty tough and I would say it’s been hitting my co-workers a lot harder,” Caffrey said.
About 40 full-time and part-time workers in the cafe and catering operation are contracted by Sodexo Live! When Phipps decided it would officially end the contract on Sunday, Jan. 12, those 40 people - cooks, dishwashers janitors and others including Caffrey - all lost their jobs.
Many of the contracted workers were told Sunday would be their last day but some of them said they were let go a week earlier and without warning.
“I didn’t receive an email,” Caffrey said. “I didn’t receive a single word of information that I was even let go. I just couldn’t log into my scheduling app at my job.”
For the better part of last year, the contracted workers rallied to unionize, calling for tips, respect and a regular schedule to no avail.
The workers said they have been trying to engage with Phipps leadership but have had no success.
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“They are not responding to any of our questions,” said Caffrey.
A spokesperson for Phipps responded to Channel 11′s questions about contracted workers with a statement.
Phipps’ statement reads:
“Café operations resulted in a deficit of nearly $400,000 for Phipps last fiscal year (ending September 30); the food service business model at Phipps, which covers both catering and café services, requires holistic rethinking. We have a responsibility to determine a new way forward that ensures good service and doesn’t generate a loss. SodexoLive was notified of the end of [the] contract in October, immediately following our fiscal year and more than 90 days prior to the end of operations. As a huge international food service company, we are encouraging SodexoLive to find placements for all of their staff in other operations.
“We don’t yet know what the new food service model looks like, how many positions there will be, the full scope of work those roles will perform, or who will operate the café and catering, but we can anticipate that it will differ significantly to what we’ve done before. Any new providers we contract will be responsible for their own staffing, and we can’t speak to what their staffing needs will be. We will update the public and our members as decisions are finalized.”
Caffrey said they’re not giving up.
“It’s sad to see it come to this but we’re fighting for each other and this won’t end now,” he said.
SEIU PA State Director Sam Williamson issued a statement on behalf of the union about the situation saying:
“It is incredibly disappointing that Phipps let their contract with Sodexo Live! run out, and now over 40 employees are unemployed. For much of 2024, the hard-working employees attempted to unionize with 32BJ SEIU and were continually ignored by Phipps leadership and contractor Sodexo Live! Although the workers lost their jobs on Sunday, 32BJ SEIU is committed to justice for workers, and we refuse to tolerate this type of treatment of workers in Pittsburgh. We will be continuing to hold Phipps accountable and stand with these workers moving forward.”
Channel 11 reached out to the contractor Sodexo Live! for its side and has not heard back.
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