School Cafeterias Privatized, Union Workers Will ‘Fight’

With management of East Haven’s school cafeterias being outsourced to a private company, unionized employees are faced with an uncertain future despite assurances they will not be laid off.

“Shame, shame,” said one cafeteria worker to Board of Education members after they filed out of the meeting room on Tuesday.

Judy Kamienski, a 27 year veteran of East Haven’s cafeterias and president of the local United Public Service Employees Union, says they will file grievances and “fight.”

“Salaries are going to go down,” she said. “Hours are going to be cut. Girls could even be cut.”

The Board of Education voted 6-2 to approve an agreement with Long Island, N.Y.-based Whitson’s Culinary Group. School representatives said that privatization will save $110,000 in the first year, with additional savings in the following years. Detailed finances could not be obtained by press time.

“I’ve listened to our cafeteria works express fears of losing their jobs,” said Ronald DeNuzzo, a Board of Education member. “I believe Whitson’s respects our employees, what they do, and have no intentions of replacing anyone as long as they are doing their job.”

Board of Education member Christine Maisano said she took "great offense" to what DeNuzzo said.

"I think you treated these women that have been employees of this town poorly right now," Maisano said. "They have given their heart and soul to these children. they have worked endlessly...and you cant forget the fact they are people with jobs, with lives, with responsibilities. 

Cafeteria workers, however, are faced with an unknown fiancial future. In one year, the labor agreement between the union and the Board of Education will expire. After that, employees will have to negotiate again. Pay cuts for the 33 cafeteria workers are possible, as are changes to benefits.

In a , Kamienski, the union president, said their hourly wage ranges from $10.27 to $16, for five hours a day, 155 days a year. She said after more than two decades, she makes $14.79 an hour. Only she and two other employees are eligible to retire with lifetime medical benefits that also cover their spouses.

The agreement with Whitson’s Culinary Group is effective immediately. Board of Education members Tia DePalma and Christine Maisano were opposed to the privatization.