BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- The union for food service workers at Clarkson University say they have reached a "historic" agreement with their parent company for wages.

Contract workers for Sodexo food service at Clarkson University held a rally at the corners of Maple Street and Clarkson Avenue Friday (Nov. 8) to announce that the union and the company reached a tentative agreement on Nov. 7.

Brian Teucke, the Auburn-based representative for the SEIU Local 200United Union, said the details of the agreement won't be released until next week when it is circulated to the membership for ratification.

"This is an historic agreement, and a historic increase in wages," Teucke said to the workers and supporters who gathered for the rally.

Teucke praised the local members for their efforts in securing the deal, stating that the local union members had helped secure more than 500 signatures on a petition calling for better wages from Sodexo, the private company that provides food service at the university.

Teucke praised Sodexo for working with the union on the issue.

"We can be friends, we can have peace, but we also need a living wage," he said.

Adam Daggers, local union chairman, also spoke.

"We have triumphed," he said. "They have responded well but at the same time the fight continues."