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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, September 4, 2009 9:39 PM CDT
LETTER: Dining service staff
has big responsibility

NANCY E. KINGERY, Greenup

As a member of AFSCME Local No. 981, and the staff of Eastern Illinois University’s Housing and Dining, I felt the need to write this letter.

Our responsibility here at EIU is to accommodate our students with the highest level of comfort away from home. For the most part, the thousands that rely on us for this, seem very grateful; the reward for our production.

In dining services, the staff of 44 AFSCME members is stretched to cover extended services. From 7:15 a.m. to 1 a.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sundays, the kids can find something to eat in one of the four dining centers or two convenience stores.

This means we have non-traditional shifts and days off. We have unfilled positions, lack of family time, lack of respect. Not much time to sit around and do nothing.

The safety and health of our customers, tax-paying citizens like us, is an awesome responsibility and our livelihood. We are all grateful for our jobs, but we know they could be better.

Our commitment to fighting for a safer, healthy work place relies on AFSCME’s help. Our membership here is not protected like the private sector with Federal OSHA coverage.

NANCY E. KINGERY

Greenup

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Mama says wrote on Sep 6, 2009 9:16 AM:

" Any food industry has long hours. Son works in food and has 10 hour shifts, stays with someone not showup to help whoever is closing. When he caughtup on his job he helps the wait staff, will wash dishes to help the dishwasher, and jack of all trades.
AND others wonder why he gets raises.
HE WORKS BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.
I know EIU has a good staff and do work hard for their money, and a lot of outsiders not appreciate all do either.
Can't some students fill in some of the needed help? I know serving others helps the young realize what REAL work when work in food. "

Raider65 wrote on Sep 8, 2009 4:22 AM:

" Nancy, it's like this. You signed up for this job.You know what the responsibilities and duties are. There are a lot of people out there who would love to have your job. So please, stop whining about it. "

Beaches wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:58 AM:

" Nancy:

I am not really sympathetic to your situation. You have student help, you have jobs that pay well with very good benefits. Every job has pluses and minuses, and we all deal with them. "

AnnaNiemaus wrote on Sep 8, 2009 6:20 PM:

" I would write a letter to the editor whining about my job, but I'm too busy working.

Waaaaaaaaah "

AnnaNiemaus wrote on Sep 8, 2009 6:20 PM:

" Sorry, I'm tired and grouchy. This just struck a nerve. "

Beaches wrote on Sep 8, 2009 6:40 PM:

" Anna:

I understand your frustration. I agree that the dining service workers do a huge service for the university and our students. That being said, so do most of the workers on campus. Many of them don't get to work traditional hours, many travel and miss family time - no job is perfect. Nancy, I hope that the union supports you well and that EIU treats you fairly. I understand there is a problem with dining service workers calling in, alhtough I hear many of the other previous problems have improved of late. It's an imperfect world. "

equestria wrote on Sep 8, 2009 11:35 PM:

" I can't feel sorry for you if you are understaffed. A friend on mine applied who has an excellent work record and food service experience and she didn't get hired. Yes she passed the test, too. Probably because of her age, but that is illegal isn't it. "

pj1983 wrote on Sep 9, 2009 7:43 AM:

" oh, poor me, i manage a retail store. that means little time off during holidays, working the day after thanskgiving and christmas, covering shifts when others flake on me and dealing with rude customers. oh, wait, at least i HAVE a JOB! i'll be quiet now! Be thankful you have a job. there are plenty of people out there who would jump at the chance to have yours! "

Raider65 wrote on Sep 9, 2009 10:49 AM:

" Having a state job at the University, and complaining about it in the newspaper, is probably a bad idea. But complaining about it on the internet, is beyond stupid. Pretty soon, if not already, you'll be asking yourself, What was I thinking? "

hank hill wrote on Sep 9, 2009 6:32 PM:

" Why don't all of you that are running this woman in the ground use you heads. Do YOU work where she does? Or do you work there and are a manager trying to stir something with your obviously biased comments? I will not make any negative comments until I have stood in her shoes. I agree that it was not a wise idea to send a letter to the editor, hindsite is better than foresite. Unless you work in that kitchen with Ms. Kingery, how do you know what her working conditions are. That's right she has a job at the university, lots of people would love to have that job! I got out of the military and started working in a local factory(you're so lucky, thats a good job!), the working conditions were ok, the hours were bad and the overtime was horrible. I had no life outside of that place. Any time I mentioned any of the "bad" parts to my family and friends, I was told "but it is such a good job." I put in 10 years there until I had enough. There is a difference between a "good" job and a "good paying job with good benifits." "

AnnaNiemaus wrote on Sep 9, 2009 9:33 PM:

" hank hill,

Seems like you have an odd definition of "running someone into the ground"

I've worked at EIU and at Donnelley. Want to guess which one I thought was a better job?

Everyone everywhere thinks their job is lousy sometimes; it's just that most of us don't write a column about it (or a union advertisement!) "

Mama says wrote on Sep 9, 2009 10:27 PM:

" Been supervisor in nursing facilities, management in convenience stores, and all STUNK after couple weeks when the REAL WORK REVEALED. Both had overtime and none when on management. 60 or more hours a week was nothing, and noshows made me work a lot of their shifts to keep things running. But had a job and I made just a quarter an hour more than the per hour employee, that was what stunk about it all. "

caringmom wrote on Sep 10, 2009 2:42 PM:

" Be thankful you have a job...and if you don't want it anymore I know quite a few people who would more than gladly take your place. "