As black-gowned graduates paraded outside the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall Tuesday, campus food service workers offered congratulations, a crossword puzzle — and a plea for help.

About 300 members of UNITE HERE Local 75 who serve food and drink at U of T’s downtown and Scarborough campuses are seeking better wages and benefits from their employers, Aramark Canada Ltd. and Compass Group Canada.

About two dozen union members handed out neon yellow information flyers with a crossword puzzle on the back for grads and their guests to complete while they waited for the ceremony to start. They used the occasion to draw attention to their plight and to put pressure on the university to step in on their behalf.

“We are here to congratulate the students and to let their parents know we are the ones who fed them while they were away from home,” said line cook Lambert Villaroel, 61, who works for Aramark in the university’s science and technology building and earns $11.55 an hour.

“They also need to know we need a better contract with benefits like glasses, medical and dental coverage,” he said.

Valerie Gaynor, 53, a cook at New College residence for almost 12 years, said many of the workers are middle-aged immigrants who would have trouble finding another job.

“My daughter is 25 and I would like her to go to university, too. But I can’t afford it on what I make,” said Gaynor, who earns $13.50 an hour.

The workers, who have been in a legal strike position since early spring, are currently bargaining with both companies.

A spokesperson for Aramark would not comment on the negotiations but said the company would “continue to bargain in good faith.”

“We are hopeful that we will soon reach an agreement that works for everyone,” said company spokesperson Megan Haney.

U of T spokeswoman Laurie Stephens said the university allowed the union to hand out flyers at convocation “as an exceptional measure” on the understanding that it did not disrupt the event.

“The university hopes that the union and the company are able to work out the terms of a collective agreement without the need for a labour disruption.” she said in a statement.

Although many of the grads and their guests said they took the flyer to be polite and hadn’t read it, some were impressed.

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“It’s great when people have the opportunity to express themselves and this is very astute,” said U of T professor emeritus Cornelia Baines whose grandson, Andrew Martin, was graduating Tuesday. “Especially with the crossword on the back.”

The workers and their supporters will be handing out flyers again at U of T convocation ceremonies Wednesday and Thursday.