Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) has announced that it will outsource all campus-run cafeterias to Aramark, a large U.S.-based food services corporation. This change will result in 27 dedicated food service workers losing their jobs across Nova Scotia — many of whom have spent years building trust, connection, and care within our campus communities. These individuals are more than food workers: they greet students by name, know our dietary needs, make meals affordable, and, on some campuses, directly support culinary students in gaining real-world kitchen experience.

  If this plan moves forward, NSCC will lose more than local jobs. We risk replacing community-based food services with a corporate model that may prioritize profit over people. Students could face higher food prices and fewer personalized supports. Culinary and hospitality programs may lose experiential learning spaces. Workers nearing retirement may lose not only their roles, but pensions, health benefits, and the dignity of work they’ve long held within the college system. This is not just a financial decision — it’s a decision that affects how we care for one another and uphold NSCC’s commitment to equity, learning, and community service.

  Now is the time to act. This decision was made without open consultation with students, staff, or affected communities. NSCC awarded the contract to Aramark based on a previous procurement, without a new competitive bidding process. The college has cited projected savings of $829,500 per year — less than 0.5% of its annual provincial funding. We, the undersigned, call on NSCC leadership to:

• Pause or reconsider the outsourcing decision
• Engage in meaningful consultation with students, staff, unions, and communities
• Explore local, transparent alternatives that reflect NSCC’s values and protect the people who make our campuses strong

  This is a pivotal moment. As students, workers, alumni, and community members, we ask NSCC to choose a path rooted in fairness, transparency, and care for the people it serves. By signing this petition, you are joining NSCC Voices United to advocate for a better way forward — one that puts people before profit and keeps our campuses rooted in community.