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Union Makes Pitch To Retake Prison Food Service Contract

A state employees' union has made a pitch to take back the job of feeding Ohio's 50 thousand prison inmates. 

The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association says its proposal includes a lower per meal cost than that offered by Philadelphia-based Aramark Correctional Services, whose 2-year contract is up this summer.  The plan presented Monday by the union that represents prison workers also includes strengthened security and sanitation training for food service coordinators.  The state prisons agency has recommended renewing Aramark's 110 milli0n dollar contract, saying it has saved taxpayers more than expected and had relatively few problems.  The company faced criticism last year over under staffing, running out of food, and a few cases of maggots near food prep areas.  The state fined Aramark over 270 thousand dollars but officials say the number of problems with the service has declined dramatically since last May.   Prisons department spokesperson JoEllen Smith said the agency is reviewing the union's proposal.
 

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