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Cafeteria workers press council for higher pay and summer compensation during public comment
Summary
Multiple Lawrence Public School cafeteria staff and allies told the council they are seeking higher wages, summer pay and restored benefits after years of low pay and limited summer work.
Multiple cafeteria workers for the Lawrence Public Schools and community supporters addressed the council during the public-participation period on May 20, urging better pay and benefits for school food-service staff.
Speakers said food-service workers perform critical tasks and receive comparatively low pay and irregular summer work. One repeated theme was that many cafeteria workers are paid about $18 per hour and work a limited school-year schedule, leaving them without pay during the summer. Bertila Benitez, who said she has worked in the schools for 23 years, told the council, “We are the ones that feed the children... I have been working in the school system for 23 years, and now after so many years, I've been receiving $18 an hour.” Another worker said her current hourly wage is $18.78 and emphasized the challenge of making ends meet when summer work is not guaranteed.
Speakers described bargaining with the district and asked the city to support fair contracts and better compensation. They also raised concerns about loss of stipends and changes in longevity pay that reduced overall compensation; one speaker said longevity had been removed in 2016 and a past stipend was $5,500.
The statements were made during the public-comment portion of the council meeting; no formal council action on the contracts or school personnel occurred that night. Councilors and school representatives were reminded of the staffing, scheduling and budgetary constraints that underlie school employment contracts.
Workers called for even modest increases and more predictable summer work opportunities. The testimonies provide a public record of staff concerns as the city and the school district continue contract negotiations and budgeting for upcoming fiscal cycles.
