GREENSBORO, N.C. — Update: Guilford County School nutrition staff will return to work on Wednesday, Nov. 29., the district says.
Nutrition staff called out again Tuesday protesting again in front of the GCS Administration Building. The group wrapped up their second day of protests early, after they say the school system wouldn't budge.
Under the compensation plan, the school system outlined a 4% rate increase for school nutrition assistants, a 7% rate increase for school nutrition managers, and potential quarterly bonuses for managers.
“To have to just take what they’re giving us, it hurts because they don’t value us. They see what we went through in two days. They didn’t even prepare a whole meal like we prepare," said SNS member, Tracey Hunter.
Tuesday workers say this still isn't enough money. They're fighting for $16.60 an hour for assistants and $20 and hour for managers. Other requests by demonstrators include implementing a financial department, implementing an advisory committee to set agendas, and getting their pay steps system back.
Cafeteria staff said they also weren't happy with the compensation plan because most of it was already in place.
The superintendent shared Monday what she thinks it accomplished.
“We’ve been able to communicate around that most managers will receive that seven percent, when each piece will be paid out, that the people who are held harmless because of years of experience will also see a minimum of four percent that was new information that came out.”
The superintendent says they worked to come up with the plan and they will continue to advocate for the next budget.
"I believe it's a reasonable solution. I do think there's more work to do but we're going to need to do it together as we move forward and how we advocate really does matter. But we also know that students deserve to be fed every day and we're committed to doing that. Within hours today, we were able to deploy 200 people from other jobs to go and be hands-on in schools. We can't do that sustainably, we need our school nutrition staff," said superintendent, Dr. Whitney Oakley.
Cafeteria workers met with the superintendent Tuesday afternoon. Since it was an employee meeting, media wasn't allowed to attend. A media briefing took place Tuesday night following the employee meeting.
Tuesday Briefing
GCS leaders are to discuss details mentioned during Town Hall.