GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — Guilford County School nutrition staff will return to work on Wednesday, Nov. 29., according to the district.
“We are grateful to our hard-working employees for their decision to return,” Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley said. “We know they share our commitment to students’ well-being, and we look forward to continuing to serve students together.”
After two-hour-long negotiations, on Monday evening and a Town Hall at Hairston Middle School Tuesday night, GCS leaders said they plan to keep the 4% pay increase for School Nutrition Assistants (SNS), and a 4-7% increase for nutrition managers.
Managers who qualify will receive a quarterly bonus if they meat the threshold for meals served which is separate from the initial pay increase.
"Did everyone get everything they wanted? No but they realized that 200 people organized within a week to pull this off and a lot of them sitting in offices making six-figure salaries had to get out and do some real work the last couple of days," said Kelly Shepherd, nutrition manager at Easter High School.
Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley said she knows some workers are still frustrated.
An advisory council is being created to allow a space for ongoing discussions and feedback on how to improve services to students while creating a positive work environment.
"So we can have honest and proactive discussions on ways to improve services to students. Creating a positive working environment and figure out how to advocate for fair compensation," Dr. Oakley said.
Shepherd said he's ready to return to work.
"I think we did get a win," Shepherd said. "We'll get more of what we wanted in the spring when budget negotiations go on."
WFMY News 2 asked Shepherd if he trusts the district will follow through on it's promises.
"If they don't we are still organized and can go back out again," Shepherd said. "The groundwork is there for that to happen if they don't stick to what they say."
Something workers didn't get back in this deal is the step program.
Without it, someone who started working two weeks ago can make the same as someone who's worked there for a decade.
While Nutrition workers were picketing other staff helped fill the need. North Carolina A&T also helped and provided meals for students in need. They could go to one of two campus dining halls.
“We want to thank the school nutrition staff who came to work, and the school-based employees, parents, central office staff, university partners, and community members who volunteered to make sure students did not go hungry during the work stoppage,” Oakley said. “Many of our children count on GCS for at least two meals per day, and our team came together to meet this need.”
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