A few weeks back, the canteen ladies working in Vertigo learned that they must swap their familiar home at TU/e, where they have been working for the past five years, for another TU/e restaurant on the university site. Two permanent employees are based in Vertigo, receiving lunchtime backup from a third Eurest co-worker.

The main concern is to staff the vending point with fresh, young faces; that's the word in the corridors. Mark van Slooten, Eurest's area manager for TU/e, puts it more subtlety. It is absolutely not a question of physical appearance, he emphasizes, rather that the Starbucks concept, in his view, requires “different staffing at that location. The Starbucks target group consists largely of young people and similarly the Vertigo building has a relatively young population. We think that's not entirely consistent with the people who currently work there.”

Van Slooten explains that at TU/e Eurest will be operating what is called a ‘limited’ Starbucks concept. This means it is largely down to the caterer to decide how it will carry the coffee brand and that the American company has limited scope to make demands. That other faces will soon appear at the counters on Vertigo's second floor is, therefore, Eurest's own choice: “Starbucks doesn't concern itself with our staffing.”

Van Slooten mentions “many underlying reasons” for the decision. For example, with the new concept in mind, a barista and outlet manager must be trained for Vertigo. As has already been discussed with the current employees, they will not be following these English-language training sessions, which are provided by Starbucks itself. The area manager does not wish to say anything further about this choice.

According to him, procedures are already in place for finding new catering staff, likely three or four people, for Vertigo. When exactly the current canteen ladies are expected to be learn of their planned new location is something Eurest will discuss "with the employees themselves”. The manager says their transfer need not mean that Eurest colleagues at other locations must make way for them.

Vertigo's canteen staff are disappointed about the course events have taken, but say they wish not to say anything further on the matter.