5 things: Northeastern University dining workers approve lucrative contract

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

Following a vote to approve a new contract, Northeastern University dining hall workers will see their wages increase to roughly $30 an hour in 2026, the most lucrative contract in the history of Unite Here Local 26. Along with a $9.32 per hour pay hike for each of the 400-plus dining hall workers over the next four years, improvements include making at least three-quarters of the staff full time, quadrupling pension plan contributions, and guaranteeing coverage when someone calls in sick.

Read more: Northeastern dining hall workers approve most lucrative contract in Local 26 history

Nearly 50 members of Congress have signed a letter urging Congressional leadership "to include funding for school meals for all in the next continuing resolution." A school meal funding bill had passed Congress back in June but did not include extending the universal free meals approach that had been implemented in response to the COVID pandemic.

Read more: Renewed push for universal school meals

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Compass Group has successfully issued two Sustainable Bonds, raising €500 million and £250 million, respectively, to fund the Group's sustainability initiatives and the attainment of its global Climate Net Zero target. The proceeds of the Sustainable Bond will be used under the Group's new Sustainable Financing Framework (launched in July 2022) on projects that will improve responsible sourcing, products purchased from local and diverse suppliers, and other sustainable expenditure that supports decarbonization throughout the Group's value chain.

Read more: Compass Group Issues First Sustainable Bonds to Achieve Net Zero Goals

Brown University Dining Services has ended a pilot policy implemented during the first week of the school year that required students to leave their Brown ID with a cashier while filling grab to-go boxes in certain dining halls. “The pilot practice was designed to incentivize diners to plan ahead and make their selections efficiently,” said Vice President of Dining Programs George Barboza, who noted that some students filling their to-go boxes sometimes took up to 45 minutes, causing delay during “peak hours.” The cashiers’ desks ultimately filled up with “too many cards,” leading to confusion, said Linda Whittaker, senior manager of residential dining. But she stressed that the “all you care to eat” dining halls need firmer boundaries for students. “It’s either eat in or take out,” she said.

Related:5 things: Pennsylvania and New Jersey expand school meal programs

Read more: Dining halls no longer require students to leave ID cards for to-go meals

Fooda, a dining services firm that brings local restaurant food to workplaces, has secured a partnership with Replate, a technology-based social enterprise that connects and delivers surplus food from businesses to communities in need. Fooda and Replate have a combined presence in 18 major cities across the country, including New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

Read more: Announcing Partnership with Replate

Bonus: 50 Stories in 50 Years

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]