UNITE HERE Local 11 Files Lawsuit Against California State Prisons Over Aramark Food Service Information Disclosure
UNITE HERE Local 11, the labor union representing thousands of food service workers across Arizona, has filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR), alleging that the agency unlawfully refused to provide public records related to prison food service operations and the performance of its primary food service contractor, Aramark. The lawsuit, filed in Arizona state court last Friday, argues that the prison system has failed to comply with Arizona’s public records law by withholding documents that are considered essential for public accountability.
The legal action centers on a public records request submitted by Local 11 in August 2025, seeking detailed information about Aramark’s management of prison food services, including records evaluating the company’s contractual performance. According to the complaint, despite months of follow-up communications, ADCRR has not released several requested documents, including records that the union says are specifically referenced within Aramark’s contract with the department.
Union Seeks Greater Transparency
Local 11 contends that the prison system’s refusal to disclose the requested records undermines transparency and public oversight of an essential government service. The union argues that taxpayers, incarcerated individuals, and the public have a legitimate interest in understanding how prison food services are managed, particularly when those services are provided through a multimillion-dollar private contract.
The complaint alleges that ADCRR’s continued failure to produce the requested materials constitutes a direct violation of Arizona’s public records statutes. According to the filing, the withheld records are necessary to evaluate whether Aramark has fulfilled its contractual obligations and whether prison food services are meeting acceptable standards for quality, sanitation, and safety.
The lawsuit further references Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs’ Executive Order 2023-06, which emphasizes the importance of increasing transparency and accountability throughout the state’s correctional system. Local 11 argues that this executive directive reinforces the public’s right to access records concerning prison operations and the performance of private contractors working on behalf of the state.
Aramark’s Expanding Role in Arizona
Aramark has become one of Arizona’s largest institutional food service providers, supplying food services across multiple public facilities. Beyond its correctional system contract, the company also operates in prominent state institutions, including Arizona State University and the Phoenix Convention Center.
Since September 2024, Aramark has managed non-commissary food services for ADCRR under a contract reportedly worth approximately $48 million annually. The company assumed responsibility for prison meal services after replacing Trinity Services Group, which had previously held the contract.
The transition followed public criticism directed at Trinity over concerns involving food quality and sanitation within Arizona correctional facilities. State officials awarded the new contract to Aramark with the expectation of improving food service operations across the prison system.
However, Local 11 argues that public oversight of the new contractor is equally important, particularly given Aramark’s own history of controversy in correctional food service programs across the United States.
Previous Legal and Operational Concerns
The lawsuit highlights Aramark’s record of litigation and operational challenges involving correctional food service contracts in multiple states.
According to information cited in the complaint, Aramark disclosed more than 40 ongoing civil or criminal legal matters during its bid to secure the Arizona prison food service contract in 2024. The union argues that this history demonstrates why public access to performance records is especially important.
The complaint also references previous disputes involving prison food service contracts administered by Aramark elsewhere in the country.
In Mississippi, Aramark’s contract with the Department of Corrections ended in 2021 after inmates alleged that meals were frequently spoiled, moldy, rotten, undercooked, or served in insufficient portions. The allegations generated widespread criticism regarding food quality within state correctional facilities.
Similarly, Michigan terminated its contract with Aramark in 2015 approximately one year before its scheduled expiration. State officials cited numerous operational concerns, including unauthorized menu substitutions, unsanitary kitchen conditions, and allegations involving employee misconduct.
Although these incidents occurred outside Arizona, Local 11 argues they reinforce the importance of maintaining public oversight over the company’s performance in its current state contracts.
Wage Practices Also Under Scrutiny
In addition to concerns surrounding correctional food services, the union points to labor issues involving Aramark’s workforce in Arizona.
Despite generating approximately $18.5 billion in revenue during the previous fiscal year, the company has faced criticism over employee wages. According to the union, some Aramark workers in Arizona earn wages as low as $18.15 per hour.
The lawsuit also notes that the Industrial Commission of Arizona recently found Aramark liable for at least four violations of the state’s wage theft laws. While those labor violations are separate from the prison food service contract, Local 11 argues they contribute to broader concerns regarding the company’s business practices and reinforce the need for greater public accountability.
Public Records Request Remains Unfulfilled
The dispute began when Local 11 submitted a formal public records request seeking documents relating to Aramark’s prison food service contract, performance evaluations, compliance reports, and other records connected to the company’s work for ADCRR.
According to the complaint, months have passed without the department providing all of the requested materials.
The union alleges that prison officials have repeatedly delayed production of the documents despite numerous follow-up requests. Some of the missing records, the lawsuit claims, are explicitly identified within the food service contract itself, suggesting they should exist and be available for disclosure under Arizona law.
Local 11 maintains that the continued delay has prevented meaningful public review of how prison food services are being administered and whether contractual standards are being met.
Broader Focus on Arizona Prison Oversight
The lawsuit arrives amid heightened scrutiny of Arizona’s correctional system.
Earlier this year, a federal judge ordered Arizona’s prison healthcare system to be placed under a court-appointed receivership following litigation brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The lawsuit alleged widespread deficiencies in healthcare services and inhumane conditions within state prisons.
The federal court’s decision intensified concerns regarding oversight of ADCRR operations and the performance of private contractors responsible for providing essential inmate services.
In response to those broader concerns, Arizona officials established a prison oversight commission tasked with investigating health, safety, and operational issues affecting correctional facilities and their contracted service providers.
Local 11 argues that access to records concerning prison food service aligns with these broader efforts to improve transparency and accountability across Arizona’s correctional system.
Transparency at the Center of the Case
At its core, the lawsuit is not challenging the food service contract itself but instead seeks judicial enforcement of Arizona’s public records laws.
The union maintains that the requested documents are necessary to evaluate the quality of prison food services, assess contractor performance, and determine whether taxpayer-funded contracts are being properly managed.
As correctional systems across the United States continue to rely heavily on private vendors for food, healthcare, and other essential services, disputes over access to public records increasingly play an important role in ensuring government accountability.
The outcome of Local 11’s lawsuit could help clarify the extent to which Arizona agencies must disclose records relating to private contractors operating within public institutions, particularly when those contractors provide critical services funded by taxpayers. The case may also establish broader expectations for transparency surrounding prison operations and the management of state correctional contracts.
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