Cafeteria workers cook up strong support MILLER PLACE — Miller Place School District Cafeteria Unit members are cooking up opposition to a district move to outsource essential food services to a private-sector company under the pretext of saving taxpayers money. Navarro Workers = staple ingredients The 13 cafeteria workers — four full-time and nine part-time — provide breakfast and lunch to children in four district schools. In addition to providing essential, healthy meals to children, cafeteria unit members are also responsible for catering special activities such as administrative gatherings and evening board meetings. School board officials floated the idea late last year without providing specifics regarding the supposed cost savings or identifying the companies under consideration. In the meantime, the fate of the four cooks and nine food servers and cashiers hangs in the balance. Add some activism The uncertainty has motivated the workers to stir the pot in their community by launching a campaign to oppose the plan. The drive includes a Facebook page called “The Heart of Miller Place Food Service — Stand With the 13,” meet and greet sessions outside a local grocery store to gather petition signatures and regular attendance at school board meetings. Long Island Region President Nick LaMorte and Suffolk County Educational Employees Local President Maria Navarro recently spoke out at a school board meeting against outsourcing food services. “Our members are part of this community, personally recognize the children they serve, and are willing to go the extra mile for them,” said LaMorte. “I doubt the same can be said of the people Part of a flier that Miller Place School District cafeteria workers have been using to generate public support, which includes a recipe for “Lunch Lady Brownies.” working for any private entity you would replace them with.” “This sounds like a heavy-handed negotiating tactic you are using to dictate terms in pending contract negotiations,” Navarro said during her address. “In other words, we will get rid of you if you don’t agree to all our demands in collective bargaining.” Top it off with public support At the grocery meet and greet, many community members were supportive of the workers, but one shopper’s statement to the workers particularly hit home. “Shame on the powers that be in this school district for not valuing the dedicated food services workers in their employ,” said retired, 33-year district employee Joan Russo. “This decision, like many others made over the years, is not cost effective.” — Rich Impagliazzo Register to vote today! Use your voice! Please register to vote — and then make sure you vote! Visit www.elections.ny.gov for information. You can also get a voter registration form at your local post office or download a voter registration form at: www.cseany.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ voteform.pdf. May 2014 The Work Force 7
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