Update: Hundreds of laid off food service workers likely to work for new vendor

An estimated 478 jobs in the Lehigh Valley and beyond are affected as Morrison Healthcare ends a food service contract with Lehigh Valley Health Network, but the change in providers will likely result in their keeping employment with the new company, Sodexo.

In a filing with the state Department of Labor & Industry under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, Morrison Healthcare said hourly and salaried associates with Morrison and Compass Group North America will lose their employment as of March 3.

However, “we reasonably anticipate that most employees will be hired by the new vendor,” the WARN notice said. “The impacted workers are not represented by any labor organization or union.”

“The story is, we’re changing providers,” LVHN spokesman Brian Downs said in a follow-up email. “As both we, and Morrison point out, current service employees will have the opportunity to apply for jobs to remain with LVHN as Sodexo employees, and we certainly hope they do as they are a valuable part of our team and provide important services for our patients.”

Food service workers at the following facilities are affected:

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – 17th St., 1627 W. Chew St., Allentown.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest, 1200 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. and Interstate 78, Allentown.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton, 700 E. Broad St., Hazleton.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Mack Building, 2100 Mack Blvd., Allentown.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg, 2545 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pocono, 206 E. Brown St. East Stroudsburg.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill East, 700 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill South, 420 S. Jackson St., Pottsville.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Tilghman, 4815 W. Tilghman St., Allentown.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Coordinated Health Allentown, 1503 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Highland Avenue, 2310 Highland Ave., Bethlehem.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hecktown Oaks, 3780 Hecktown Road, Easton.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Carbon County, 2128 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive East, Lehighton.

· Lehigh Valley Hospital – Dickson City, 344 Main St., Dickson City.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that the employees will likely keep their employment through the new contract with Sodexo.