School Cafeteria Workers' Union Looks to Negotiate New Contract

Cafeteria workers employed in South Orange and Maplewood schools have been notified that their employer, Fairfield-based Pomptonian Food Service, intends to withdraw recognition from their union on Aug. 31 when their current contract expires, asserting that the majority of workers no longer support SEIU Local 32BJ.

“School cafeteria workers in South Orange-Maplewood have made it clear that they want to fight for better working conditions as union members,” said Kevin Brown, 32BJ's New Jersey director, in a statement. “We are eager to schedule contract negotiations with Pomptonian so everyone involved can focus on the children when the school year begins.”

According to shop steward Hazel Wollard, who's worked in the cafeteria at Columbia High School since 1996, the petition that she worked to circulate outside of work bore 23 or 24 signatures, which constitutes more than 50 percent of the 42 or 43 workers. Though she's aware of four or five workers who were disgruntled because of having to pay union dues, she feels confident that the majority still support 32BJ.

"They (Pomptonian) claim they've got the workers' vote. I know what we have," said Wollard, 58, of Newark. She says that workers' confidence in the union stems from wage increases in the last contract negotiated with their former employer Sodexo in 2006—40 cents in 2006; 35 cents in 2007; and 30 cents in 2008—as well as a pension plan. (Pomptonian was hired by the school district in the 2007-2008 school year and agreed to accept the terms of the existing labor agreement.)

"They (Pomptonian) never showed a petition or anything like that," said Wollard, who's hopeful that paid sick days would be included in a new contract negotiated by 32BJ.

Employers may withdraw recognition from a union 60 to 90 days before the expiration of a contract if they have an "objective basis" for doing so based on "uncoerced employee sentiment," says Eric Schechter of the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) Newark office. They can petition the NLRB to set up a secret ballot election with certified results. On the other hand, the union can file unfair labor practice allegations, which would result in an investigation.

According to 32BJ's assistant communications director Lynsey Kryzwick, the union may file unfair labor practice charges if Pomptonian continues to ignore requests to schedule contract negotiations.