DCPS Food Service Workers Maintain Union Status

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Union workers in D.C. Public Schools’ food services department -- members of Teamsters Locals 639 and 739 -- have won assurances that their current union contract will remain in full effect when the schools’ food operation is transferred to a private contractor. “Our members will retain their wages, benefits, seniority and grievance procedures,” said Thomas Ratliff, President of Teamsters Local 639, which represents hundreds of DCPS cafeteria workers. In addition, all new hires in school cafeterias and in the central warehouse will become Teamsters upon completion of probation. “We wanted to make sure that all of our members and the bargaining unit were protected,” said Ratliff.  When selected, the contractor will be required to negotiate with the locals when the contract expires next school year. Also, the contractor’s labor relations will be an important factor in determining if the company’s one-year contract will be renewed. As a result of pressure from the Teamsters, the provisions above have been included in the request for proposal (RFP) issued by the school system and the Teamsters have been offered a seat on the panel that will select the contractor. - reported by Roger Newell