Sodexo, Tulane’s food service provider, has agreed to settle the claims set against them by the National Labor Relations Board. The labor board pursued allegations in June that Sodexo and Tulane violated U.S. labor law.

According to a press release by PR Newswire, the claims included that Sodexo “spied on, threatened, and retaliated against” two workers for union activity, including firing Loyola university worker Terry Shelly. Sodexo agreed to settle charges by compensating Shelly and posting notices informing workers that it would not discriminate against or discipline workers for supporting a union, according to the press release.

Sodexo representatives Director of Human Resources Terry Ford, Resident District Manager Ben Hartley and General Manager Thomas Beckmann declined to comment on the settlement due to confidentiality.

Sodexo settled the charges by compensating Shelly $20,000 and offering to rehire her, according to the press release. Sodexo employees who work at Loyola’s Orleans Room, however, have said that she no longer works for university dining. When asked if Terry Shelly reclaimed her employee position at Loyola University, Sodexo General Manager Heather Bacque said it was confidential information.

According to the Sodexo press release, “Sodexo affirmed that it has agreed with the New Orleans Regional Office of the NLRB to settle pending unfair labor practice proceedings with no admission of wrongdoing.”

Sodexo Director of Human Resources Terry Ford said Sodexo wanted the exasperation of the investigation to end.

“It was a distraction, and rather than focus on it and labor the point on, we made the decision to settle,” Ford said. “We think it’s in the best interest for everyone”

Tulane students said they view the settlement as a step in the right direction for Sodexo workers.

“They had to publicly and nationally admit that they had broken a law, that they had messed up,” said Keavy McFadden, Tulane University Peace Action Committee member. “Sodexo isn’t going to admit that they were union busting, but the fact that they settled is progress.”

As per the company’s settlement, Sodexo has posted notices for Tulane and Loyola workers to reassure them that union activity will not be persecuted. The notice on Tulane’s campus states that Sodexo will not “have union organizer removed from campus to prevent you from talking to them” or “threaten to fire your because you supported the [Service Employees International Union] or any other labor organizations.”

Ford said Sodexo finds that its employees are happy with working conditions.

“We’ve had such a tremendous return from our summer layoff,” Ford said. “Almost 90 percent of employees came back. They cited that a reason they came back was morale was very high. We talked to them all, and they’re glad to be back.”

TIMELINE

February 2010: Plans for Sodexo unionization surface.

March 2010: Sodexo holds informational staff meetings for employees, which employees reported were meant to discourage unionization. Sodexo denied these allegations. Hullabaloo representatives were not allowed to attend these meetings.

April 2010: Tulane and Loyola Sodexo employees and students deliver a letter condemning Sodexo’s reaction to unionization to the company’s regional office.

April 2010: Sodexo workers and Service Employees International Union organizers attempt to gain the support of city council members by marching at City Hall.

October 2010: Many Tulane and Loyola Sodexo employees participate in a daylong walk-out rally instead of going to work.

November 2010: TUPAC organizes a worker appreciation rally. History professor Thomas Adams spoke at the rally and organized a letter that received 106 faculty signatures.

January 2011: TransAfrica Forum releases a reported accusing Sodexo of human rights violations, citing discrimination based on race and gender, and that Sodexo has poisoned workers due to negligence, among other claims.

June 2011: The National Labor Relations Board begins to pursue allegations that Tulane University, Loyola University and Sodexo violated U.S. labor law in federal court.

August 2011: Sodexo settles with Loyola worker Terry Shelly