? Union workers at Stamford Hospital are hoping Mayor Dan Malloy can step in and help with their contract issues.

Hospital food workers and union representatives met with Malloy and state Sen. Andrew McDonald Wednesday to discuss the situation. Their contract expired at midnight.

Although the hospital and union have been in talks, New England Healthcare representative Deborah Chernoff says the hospital has not been negotiating fairly.

?This isn?t right,? says Chernoff. ?This isn?t fair. We need to protect these workers? jobs and their standards of living. They?ve given to the hospital all these years and now [the hospital] needs to give back.?

A hospital representative says a new contract has been offered and negotiations are continuing.