Minnesota prisons to end outsourcing of food service

Over the past year, AFSCME Council 5 corrections locals mobilized to end Minnesota’s risky outsourcing of food service inside state prisons. Their case was so compelling that Corrections Commissioner Tom Roy recently announced the department will end outsourcing when the current food contract expires in June 2015.

The victory improves security inside prisons, and brings 64 jobs in-house next year.

AFSCME corrections locals documented that outside vendors run out of food too frequently and sometimes serve food that is spoiled or inedible. Further, outside vendors lack the specialized training to properly supervise offenders who work in prison kitchens.      

A’viands, a for-profit corporation based in Roseville, has the current contract. It serves more than 8,000 inmates at seven state prisons – every facility except Red Wing and St. Cloud.