in-house contracts

A crowd of people in jackets surrounds the entrance to a building, with the building’s sign being displayed near the entrance (“Strand Hall”). The person closest to the camera is waving a large red flag that says “UNITE HERE Local 40,” while others hold a few signs here and there as well. Another sign says, “ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH.”
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SFU’s contracted food service workers stage demonstration

Mason Mattu December 18, 2025

On November 5, SFU’s contracted food service employees took their lunch break collectively to stage a demonstration, demanding a living wage and improved working conditions. Employees from Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Mackenzie Café, the Dining Commons, and catering participated, holding signs and banging drums as they walked around the perimeter of strand hall, SFU’s administrative building. Workers delivered a letter asking SFU president Joy Johnson to meet with them on November 10 at 6:00 p.m. to hear their concerns. The workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 40, said they are open to arranging another time with Johnson, for now just wanting to…

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An illustration of a closeup of a group of cleaning workers gathered at a table sharing Indian dishes.
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Remembering Kulbir Kaila

Petra Chase November 10, 2025

Interview and translations by: Ashima Shukla, Staff Writer Kulbir Kaila worked at SFU for 17 years. On July 28, she died at the age of 61 while working a cleaning shift on the Burnaby campus. Many of her co-workers never…

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This is a photo of a lone cleaning equipment cart at the end of a hallway at SFU.
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SFU cleaning worker dies during shift, amplifying long-standing calls to improve working conditions

Hannah Fraser and Ashima Shukla November 10, 2025

Since 2020, Contract Worker Justice (CWJ) @SFU has been leading the push for better working conditions at the university.  At the heart of the coalition’s rallies, events, and research is a demand that SFU directly employ its cleaning staff, rather…

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This is a photo of many custodial and food workers as well as Contract Worker Justice advocates rallying outside at SFU.
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CWJ hosts rally to continue pushing for in-house food and cleaning contracts

Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik January 20, 2025

Content warning: mentions of racism and worker abuse.  SFU has contracts with Best Service Pros and Chartwells Canada for cleaning and dining services respectively. Some groups, however, are hoping to change this. The Peak spoke with Cristina Figueroa, Contract Worker…

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

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© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society