Andre Blount says he’s been feeding high-ranking officials at World Bank headquarters for nearly a decade and has only received one 50-cent pay raise.
As leaders from around the world are in DC this week for the Spring Meetings of the Organizations Fighting Poverty, Brandt and his colleagues are looking to draw attention to the difficult situation they see.the organization Mission Fighting poverty means they themselves are struggling to survive.
According to union leaders, a quarter of World Bank food workers employed as contract workers through Compass Group North America receive public benefits such as SNAP, or food stamps, just to make ends meet. is receiving
“I feel sick,” Brandt, 33, said as he joined red-shirted unionists picketing outside the Development Bank on a hot afternoon this week. “They travel the world looking for ways to help people, but DC has hundreds of employees who are struggling.”
Meanwhile, a professional in a suit strode through the lobby, where End Poverty t-shirts and totes were sold.
Hummus and Tabouli Station
The building’s expansive cafeteria overlooks an indoor pond and caters to even the most extraordinary palates. There is a soup station called “Ladle and Crust,” a “Mediterranean Table” station serving hummus and tabouli, and a sushi chef serving made-to-order rolls and sashimi.
A nearby fine dining room for diplomats and bank special guests hosted lunches for delegations from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Many of the food service workers were found to be from countries where development banks are sending missions.
Brandt says he’s been in the job for 10 years and earns $18 an hour, above the DC minimum wage of $16.10. He says feeding the world’s most important people in various service and catering roles should pay more than the legal minimum.
A member of Unite Here Local 23 chapters, Blount is one of approximately 150 Compass employees employed by the World Bank. They are in contract negotiations and want higher wages and better medical benefits.
Banks not involved in contract negotiations
World Bank spokesperson David Theiss said that while the bank was not a party to negotiations between unions and Compass Group, bank staff showed “deep admiration and respect” for their food service colleagues. He said the bank had ensured workers would be paid throughout the pandemic.
$18 per hour may seem steep in some areas, but the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’sliving wage At $22.15 per hour, DC is one of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the United States, according to the Index.
Starting July 1, DC’s minimum wage will increase to $17 an hour for all workers, making it one of the highest minimum wages in the country. According to Zillow, the rise is coming because persistently high inflation eats into workers’ salaries, and the median rent in Washington is his $2,571.
“The World Bank says its mission is to boost shared prosperity by increasing the incomes of the poorest 40% of all countries,” said D. Taylor, President of Unite Here. said in a conference call with the delegation. “We think it starts with rewarding food service workers in the United States. They work hard every day but struggle to pay their bills.”
cost of living crisis
Compass Group spokeswoman Lisa Claybon said the company is negotiating in good faith and is eager to reach a fair deal. She added that the company has a “long history” of working to “do what’s best for its employees and customers.”
The current negotiations also cover Compass workers who provide meals at the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Institutes of Health.
Alex Campbell, director of the International Trade Union Confederation’s Washington, D.C. office, said workers around the world are “suffering from a cost of living crisis that they didn’t cause.”
“Workers everywhere need a decent standard of living, basic job rights and collective bargaining to end poverty and promote shared prosperity in these turbulent times.” Campbell said. “This goes from his Compass employees here in his DC to workers on projects funded by the World Bank Group anywhere in the world.”
Blount said he naively believes his work should pay him what he deserves. He added, “If we can get a pay raise from Compass Group, it will help us save emergency funds and allow us to pay our bills on time instead of being late.”
Summarize this content to 100 words
Andre Blount says he’s been feeding high-ranking officials at World Bank headquarters for nearly a decade and has only received one 50-cent pay raise. As leaders from around the world are in DC this week for the Spring Meetings of the Organizations Fighting Poverty, Brandt and his colleagues are looking to draw attention to the difficult situation they see.the organization Mission Fighting poverty means they themselves are struggling to survive. According to union leaders, a quarter of World Bank food workers employed as contract workers through Compass Group North America receive public benefits such as SNAP, or food stamps, just to make ends meet. is receiving
“I feel sick,” Brandt, 33, said as he joined red-shirted unionists picketing outside the Development Bank on a hot afternoon this week. “They travel the world looking for ways to help people, but DC has hundreds of employees who are struggling.”
Workers contracted to feed World Bank employees through a company called Compass Group are being offered higher wages and affordable healthcare outside the World Bank in Washington, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. I am protesting the payment.
AP Photo/Mariam Zhaib
Meanwhile, a professional in a suit strode through the lobby, where End Poverty t-shirts and totes were sold.
Hummus and Tabouli Station The building’s expansive cafeteria overlooks an indoor pond and caters to even the most extraordinary palates. There is a soup station called “Ladle and Crust,” a “Mediterranean Table” station serving hummus and tabouli, and a sushi chef serving made-to-order rolls and sashimi.A nearby fine dining room for diplomats and bank special guests hosted lunches for delegations from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Many of the food service workers were found to be from countries where development banks are sending missions.Brandt says he’s been in the job for 10 years and earns $18 an hour, above the DC minimum wage of $16.10. He says feeding the world’s most important people in various service and catering roles should pay more than the legal minimum.
A member of Unite Here Local 23 chapters, Blount is one of approximately 150 Compass employees employed by the World Bank. They are in contract negotiations and want higher wages and better medical benefits.
Workers contracted to feed World Bank employees through a company called Compass Group are being offered higher wages and affordable healthcare outside the World Bank in Washington, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. I am protesting the payment.
AP Photo/Mariam Zhaib
Banks not involved in contract negotiations World Bank spokesperson David Theiss said that while the bank was not a party to negotiations between unions and Compass Group, bank staff showed “deep admiration and respect” for their food service colleagues. He said the bank had ensured workers would be paid throughout the pandemic.$18 per hour may seem steep in some areas, but the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’sliving wage At $22.15 per hour, DC is one of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the United States, according to the Index. Starting July 1, DC’s minimum wage will increase to $17 an hour for all workers, making it one of the highest minimum wages in the country. According to Zillow, the rise is coming because persistently high inflation eats into workers’ salaries, and the median rent in Washington is his $2,571.”The World Bank says its mission is to boost shared prosperity by increasing the incomes of the poorest 40% of all countries,” said D. Taylor, President of Unite Here. said in a conference call with the delegation. “We think it starts with rewarding food service workers in the United States. They work hard every day but struggle to pay their bills.”
Workers contracted to feed World Bank employees through a company called Compass Group are being offered higher wages and affordable healthcare outside the World Bank in Washington, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. I am protesting the payment.
AP Photo/Mariam Zhaib
cost of living crisisCompass Group spokeswoman Lisa Claybon said the company is negotiating in good faith and is eager to reach a fair deal. She added that the company has a “long history” of working to “do what’s best for its employees and customers.” The current negotiations also cover Compass workers who provide meals at the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Institutes of Health.
Food banks prepare for increased demand as pandemic-era benefits end
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Alex Campbell, director of the International Trade Union Confederation’s Washington, D.C. office, said workers around the world are “suffering from a cost of living crisis that they didn’t cause.”
“Workers everywhere need a decent standard of living, basic job rights and collective bargaining to end poverty and promote shared prosperity in these turbulent times.” Campbell said. “This goes from his Compass employees here in his DC to workers on projects funded by the World Bank Group anywhere in the world.”Blount said he naively believes his work should pay him what he deserves. He added, “If we can get a pay raise from Compass Group, it will help us save emergency funds and allow us to pay our bills on time instead of being late.”
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/world-bank-workers-are-underpaid/ Anti-Poverty World Bank US workers say they can’t keep up with the bills