Cafeteria workers urge Lawrence Alliance for Education to secure fair contract

Dozens of Lawrence school cafeteria workers and supporters told the Lawrence Alliance for Education at the May 14 meeting they want a fair contract and higher pay.

Their appeal arrived during the board's public participation period as several cafeteria staff, longtime district employees and an elected school committee member said cost-of-living increases have left hourly wages unchanged despite added duties and regulatory responsibilities.

The comments matter because bargaining between the district and cafeteria staff unions remains unresolved and workers said they are in mediation. If the district and unions cannot reach agreement, staff said the dispute could affect meal service and school operations.

Several speakers described long service and low pay. “My name is Yovana Trinidad, and I am a cafeteria worker specifically for the South Lawrence East School,” said Yovana Trinidad, who asked the board to “consider our needs and we could negotiate and have flexibility on both parts.” Bertilia Benitez told the board she is paid $18 an hour after many years in the district and said, “We need a salary that is fair for all of us.” Aureliz Pujol said she has worked in the district for 20 years and that cafeteria workers “do not get a fair contract” at $18.76 per hour. Carmen Diaz, who works at Lawrence High School, said cafeteria workers have “been discriminated as workers” since February 2022 and called for better salaries and benefits.

School committee member Myra Ortiz told the board she stood in solidarity with cafeteria workers and said parents and the school committee are listening. “I stand in solidarity on equity and payment for all of our workers,” Ortiz said, and asked the district leadership to “take that listening posture and see what the board has and the superintendent has with this specific budget.”

Speakers said bargaining has been slow and that the union and district were in mediation. “We have been trying to negotiate since last year,” said Anna Sanchez, a district employee, adding the group had hoped recent leadership changes would help reach an agreement.

The board did not respond to public comments during the meeting; the public-comment rules were restated at the start of the session. The speakers said written comments could be submitted to the district email address listed by the board.

Board members and district staff later discussed budget and staffing items on the agenda, but the public-comment segment was described by the chair as a listening period during which board members do not respond.

Going forward, cafeteria workers asked the superintendent and the board to prioritize collective bargaining and to consider the cost-of-living impacts on hourly staff while negotiations continue.