IT'S DONE! VICTORY!!!!!!

A few minutes ago, the following email was sent out by Giovanna Pompele to signatories of our petition and other sympathizers:

yesterday Chartwells let the union know they were willing to do card check. soon after, president shalala sent this email to the students of STAND and to the Hurricane:  

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI STATEMENT ON UNIONIZING EFFORTS The University is aware of a possible work stoppage as part of a unionizing effort. Today, we have learned that Chartwells offered the union a card check, and the University is hopeful this will resolve the issues. The University assures the campus community that residential college dining halls and our food court operations will continue as scheduled through the remainder of the semester. The University values its faculty and staff, as well as employees of its contractors, including Chartwells. 

about 10 mins ago we received the following announcement from SEIU's eric brakken: "Just got the signed agreement!  Card count will happen on May 3rd." 

this is stunning and fabulous news and i'm going to let it speak for itself. i have a million questions. doubtless you have to. we'll certainly get answers.  

in the meantime let's rejoice in the knowledge that this is what the Chartwells employees wanted, the most expeditious and fair way to form a union, and that they will have a union in less than 10 days! it's a remarkably peaceful and fast victory and i for one am delighted that it was achieved without a strike.  

THANK YOU THANK THANK YOU for all you did. this is one of those cases in which every drop of solidarity counted. thank you to the academic senate, thank you to president shalala, thank you to each signatory of the petition, thank you to those who spoke to their classes, thank you most heartily to STAND, thank you to those who kept us buoyed and enthusiastic with their emails and support, thank you to all actors big and small. YAY UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI: you are getting closer to being a just and fair workplace for everyone!

Update due to multiple posters: We express our solidarity with the dozens of African American clergy who signed a petition in support of the Chartwells employess and were never received by the president. We express our solidarity with all leaders of the African American community in Miami: we are all your brothers and your sisters! Today one little step towards equality has been taken.