Dining hall workers suing ASU over First Amendment right to protest working conditions

Arizona State University’s dining hall workers union filed a lawsuit Thursday against the school, the Arizona Board of Regents and ASU President Michael Crow over their First Amendment right to protest working conditions on campus.

The union claims ASU officials violated the First Amendment by preventing workers from protesting on or near the campus.

According to the union, workers protesting working conditions on the public sidewalk outside Mountain America Stadium before ASU’s spring graduation on May 11 were met with university officials who told the group they were not permitted to protest near graduation venues.

The union claims university police used “aggressive force” and chased the workers off the sidewalk before arresting two workers.

ASU workers’ union lawsuit against ASU by shiratanzer

An ASU spokesperson said the university has no comment regarding the lawsuit.

“ASU does not regulate the subject, content or viewpoints of speech, but has adopted time, place and manner guidelines for when and how that speech can take place on campus,” the spokesperson told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Workers gathered outside of Gordon Commons, ASU’s downtown campus dormitory, on Thursday to share their thoughts on the issue and call for increased pay and healthcare.

Mari Yepez with UNITE HERE Local 11 said the workers on campus still do not have a contract agreed upon for the new school year with their employer Aramark.

“The goal here is to send a message to both the university and to Aramark that workers need to get a good contract that gives them good wages, affordable health insurance, a pension, because they work here in and out for some people for various amounts of time, and they deserve a fair contract,” she said.

Maria Santian is a dining hall worker at ASU and said through a translator that she wants to be able to make ends meet.

“She wants a better life and that means a life with dignity, to be able to work and rest at the end of the day and not be so stressed about how you’re going to pay your bills,” she said.

ASU’s move-in weekend begins Thursday ahead of the fall semester beginning Aug. 20.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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