Conn. school board takes steps to privatize school cafeterias

The new school year begins in less than two months, and there's no apparent resolution near in the dispute between unionized cafeteria workers and the board of education.

The board's Republican caucus has been trying to hire a private contractor for more than two years to take over the school lunch program, but has been locked in court and labor board fights with the union representing the roughly 50 workers who run the cafeterias.

Last year, the school board signed an agreement to retain Whitsons Culinary Group to take over the cafeteria operation, but changed course after a labor board ruling in favor of the union. The schools ultimately kept their own workers on the job.

Next week, however, the board is scheduled to open a fresh round of bids from contractors that want to run the cafeterias for the 2015-16 school year. The school board had sought proposals this spring, but abruptly canceled that request and issued a new request that included detailed breakdowns of how many meals are served at each school.

The most recent contract for school cafeteria workers expired in mid-2013. At that time, hourly wages ranged from $13.58 for a general worker to $16.71 for a lead cook. School board members from both political parties have said for years that medical benefits — not wages — are responsible for keeping the school lunch program in steady deficits.

After Republicans took control of the board in the 2013 election, they sought bids from private contractors. The board decided through a party line vote to privatize the cafeterias and hire Whitson's. Not long afterward, the board opted out of the contract when the state labor board handed down a decision saying it had negotiated in bad faith with Local 2267 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.