5 things: LAUSD reaches deal with striking support workers

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

1.    LAUSD reaches deal with striking support workers

The Los Angeles Unified School District and union leaders say they reached a deal on pay raises for bus drivers, custodians and other support staff after a three-day strike that shut down the nation’s second-largest school system. The deal sets the district’s minimum wage at $22.52 and includes a series of retroactive raises going back to 2021 as well as pay bumps this coming July and January that will collectively hike worker pay by about 30%, said Max Arias, executive director of SEIU Local 99.

Read more: Los Angeles schools, union leaders reach deal after strike

2.    Quest exits Farehouse Market lease early due to sales shortfall

Quest Food Management, which operates the Farehouse Market in Chicago's massive River North office building at 600 West Chicago Avenue, has decided to exit its 10-year lease after three years due to lackluster sales at the property and is requesting a payment of more than $515,000 from real estate development firm Sterling Bay. Only between 20 and 50% of pre-pandemic worker attendance has been restored at the 1.7 million sq.ft. property, depending on the day of the week, and it hasn’t increased since last summer, Quest's suit claims, and is asking to be reimbursed for tenant improvement costs it put toward building out its space that it says it’s entitled to for exercising an early lease termination.

Related:5 things: USDA proposes to expand CEP

Read more: Retailer hits Sterling Bay with lawsuit seeking $515K over lack of office action

3.    New Mexico universal free school meals law promotes local produce, fresh prep

New Mexico might not be the first state to provide free school meals to all K-12 public school students but Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham insisted after signing a bill stipulating that free breakfast and lunches be provided on a daily basis that the state’s newest initiative could be the farthest-reaching of its kind in the nation. In large part, that’s because New Mexico’s approach will provide more funding for school districts statewide who procure local produce and freshly-made meals.

Read more: Governor signs free school meals bill, says its benefits could transcend cafeterias

4.    Sysco workers strike in Indy, Louisville

Truckers and warehouse workers in Sysco’s Indianapolis facility stopped working and went on strike late Sunday night, March 26, saying they want better pay, shorter work days and benefits as they clash with management during contract talks. Sysco workers in Louisville also began striking this week over contract disputes. The company said its Indianapolis operation has backup plans to avoid disruptions to customers, but did not provide details.

Related:5 tech things: Grocer’s “smart” salad bars trace ingredient usage, adapt to customer preferences

Read more: Sysco truckers strike, may disrupt service to cafeterias, restaurants

5.    Tik Tokers highlight worst and best airline meals

The quality of airline food is a hot topic among the travel community and in a bid to offer insight into what's currently on the menu, a spread of airline passengers have taken to TikTok, filming themselves tucking into in-flight meals of varying quality. Here are some of the best and worst-rated examples of airline cuisine from 'flavorless' pasta and 'rock hard' muffins to 'terrible' wine and 'restaurant quality' lamb.

Read more: The TRUTH about mile-high meals! Travelers reveal which airlines serve the best - and WORST - in-flight dishes - from 'very tender' beef on Korean Air to Air France's inedible 'hospital food'

Bonus: CulinArt Team supports clean eating regime at Phoenix Contact

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]