JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – AFSCME members in north Florida who feed school children had to fight hard for the modest raises they’re getting as part of their new contract.
Last month, food service workers for Duval County Public Schools faced a tough choice — continue to accept poverty wages or go on strike.
The workers, employed by private contractor Chartwells K12, were simply asking that starting pay move to $14/hour, $1 above the state’s minimum wage and still less than the $15 an hour level mandated in a 2022 law that applies to public employees in school districts across the state.
“This was about respect, plain and simple. What they are doing is teaching the students we serve every day a valuable lesson — a dime’s worth of profit matters more than the dignity of a fellow human being,” said Annette Taylor, a food unit lead and vice president of Local 2941 (AFSCME Florida), the union representing the Chartwells employees.
“Even with families struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising costs on everything, Chartwells management tries to nickel and dime their employees to the point we cannot live, even with second or third jobs,” Taylor said.
The workers held a press conference to draw attention to the issue and let parents know how this issue impacted their children. Speakers pointed to Chartwells’ own data showing how high turnover and an excessive number of vacancies were creating problems. The lack of a respectable wage contributed to the increased turnover of food service staff, which in turn contributed to diminished services for school children, teachers and staff.
“This is about the safety of the food we provide because this job takes training and skills and attention to detail,” said Gill Bush, a food service worker. “You hear almost every week about another food safety issue with sliced meat or fast food or salads, and who do you think is on the front line protecting your children from getting sick at school? It is the food service workers who are being told a 3% pay raise is just too much after years of service. Or that we must give up sick days, forcing us to come to work even when we could be endangering the health of those around us through food contamination.”
The effort paid off with robust media attention and parents calling into the school board concerned about what was going to happen to their children’s school meals. The pressure brought Chartwells back to the table and the workers last weekend voted unanimously to ratify their new contract.
Highlights of the contract include:
- Starting minimum rates of pay for food service workers going up to $14 this year, $15 in October 2025 and $15.30 in October 2026.
- Starting rate pay increases for various job classifications ranging from 2% to 14%.
- Longevity pay for senior employees.
- Stronger workplace protections and contract enforcement.
- Recognition of Juneteenth as a paid holiday for administrative building and summer employees.
“This new collective bargaining agreement is the result of a lot of hard work and support from the community and parents,” said Taylor. “We are excited to enter the holiday season with some security and certainty that we will continue to serve the students and staff so they can continue to focus on learning. And we hope in the future it won’t take blood, sweat and tears to get to this point.”