Minneapolis food service workers authorized a strike on Wednesday, one week before Minneapolis teachers are set to walk off the job.
More than 98 percent of workers with SEIU Local 284, which represents over 10,000 school support staff in K-12 schools across Minnesota, voted in favor of the strike authorization.
Those in favor want better pay and say that they have been working under an expired contract for nearly two years, during which they have served millions of meals to students during a global pandemic.
“We have been disrespected, overworked, and we’ve been underpaid, but we still show up and do this work because we love these children. If it wasn’t for the kids many of us would have left a long time ago," said Alexandria Van Buren, a food service worker for four years. "As a single parent, our current situation makes life too difficult for us. It seems like our complaints have fallen on deaf ears. We need to demand the respect we deserve.”
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According to the union, part-time food service workers making $15/hour are paid as little as $10,000 per year and pay tops out at $28,000 per year.
Workers are asking for $1/hour raises for each year in the next contract.
The union would need to provide 10-days notice ahead of any strike. MPS leaders say they are committed to reaching a fair deal.