Good afternoon,
I've been working as a food runner at a restaurant since 2022 and our union contract started in 2023. Before the contract, and up until 6 months ago, the managers were pretty consistent is scheduling the same amount of food runners, servers, and bussers for private event buyouts. However, 6 months ago my new manager started scheduling only 1 food runner while increasing the number of servers and keeping the amount of bussers the same. We all do the same work in buffet style banquets but there is now definitely a skew towards servers and simply one food runner. The contract language simply says "Manager's Rights" for the scheduling of these buyouts but does past practice apply here? I already submitted a grievance but just wanted to hear your opinions. Im also worried about my shop steward as he is the lead server and is very vocal about getting more shifts and money into the pockets of servers and doesn't see why food runners deserve a piece of the pie despite my heavyy involvement in these events in the past. It's a big issue since we primarily make our income off of these private events vs regular service as we get tipped out $600-700 on average. Now 2/3 food runners aren't regularly scheduled for those events when all of us used to work them. The manager simply said "I don't have a forward friendly face" and will watch out for me in the future but it's been 6 months.
Edit: I work in the US, Chicago. Every other type of service we do such as regular service or small private parties is based off of seniority and job role.