Stories / Labor
ASU dining workers a year without a contract; union sues over arrests
The contract for Aramark-run dining workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 11, expired Aug. 31, 2025. Workers struck across all four campuses in February, filed a safety complaint after a walkout over no cooling at a campus Panda Express, and saw two organizers arrested by ASU Police at a commencement protest.
In August the union sued ASU in federal court, alleging First Amendment violations and excessive force in those arrests. In October 2025 workers filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board accusing Aramark managers of surveilling and questioning staff. Four Tempe City Council members wrote to President Crow about the dispute, and prosecutors deferred the organizers' trespassing charges.
ASU's side / contextPresident Michael Crow said in March that ASU is satisfied with the contract and workers are paid fairly. ASU says police only enforce legal limits on speech.
Stand with ASU dining workers — UNITE HERE Local 11 →
