For decades, Row houses have paid chefs and hashers bonus and vacation pay over winter break. This year, for the first time, they will not receive these bonuses or pay. In the past, chefs and hashers received $400 to $1000 in holiday bonuses and 5 weeks of paid vacation (including spring and Thanksgiving breaks), but they now receive no bonus and only 6 days of paid vacation annually. Their healthcare has also been reduced from full to half coverage, and they must pay for parking permits and health certification at about $250 and $300, respectively, whereas previously Stanford covered these expenses. While they have also received a small pay increase, this doesn't come close to offsetting these cuts and expenses, leaving workers worried about how they'll pay for rent this break, much less their holiday celebrations. Why can’t Stanford pay chefs and hashers the same amount they did last year? Students are paying over $300 more this year to live on the Row, and house food budgets always have an end-of-quarter surplus. Given the increased budget, throwing workers into an insecure financial situation over the holiday season seems particularly unjust. This continued cost-cutting also threatens Row house communities and the quality food that draws many to live on the Row. According to a recent Daily article, Stanford has attempted to centralize control over Row houses, resulting in late payments and missed food orders. Stanford has also pressured Row houses to switch to cheaper food vendors, which would mean ready-made, unsustainable food rather than the fresh, homemade food that our house communities currently love and enjoy. In light of these injustices, we, the undersigned, demand that Stanford University: * reinstate vacation pay and holiday bonuses for chefs and hashers in self-ops, Greek houses, and theme houses at the same level as the 2010-2011 academic year; * give chefs and hashers full heath care benefits as during the 2010-2011 academic year; * cover parking permits and health certification expenses for chefs and hashers; * leave the kitchens of self-ops, Greek houses, and theme houses in control of the students, chefs, and hashers that have created these vibrant house communities.

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