The National Labor Relations Board validates HERE Local 217's charge against Sodhexo: The National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against Sodexho Inc., the food service contractor at the University of Connecticut Health Center. The labor board, responding to a complaint from Local 217 of the Hotel & Restaurant Employees & Bartenders Union, found merit to the union's charge that employee Pedro Maldonado improperly received a written warning for circulating a petition seeking more job security. Union officials said Maldonado was not working at the time he was circulating the petition. "We found merit to the charge," said John Cotter, assistant regional director for the board's Hartford office. "Our initial finding is the individual named, Mr. Pedro Maldonado, was improperly issued a warning for union activities which are protected under our law." The matter now will go to a hearing before an administrative law judge, unless Sodexho chooses to settle the matter first. Unfortunately, the overwhelming likelihood is that the NLRB will now settle with Sodhexo on 217's behalf for a pittance.