As Paul Harvey would say, here’s “the rest of the story.”

During the fall of 2015, word had gotten out that Williamsburg Local District was going to outsource the food service department. Several board meetings were held with the community and employees present. The board assured everyone that they had no intentions to outsource.

In May, the food service employees were informed that the Milford Food Service Department would be taking over food service in a managerial capacity only, and that all other functions of the kitchen would remain the same.

In the article submitted to The Clermont Sun it was stated since the start of 2010 the kitchen was losing money. Correct, but they (the Board of Education) didn’t divulge the rest of the story. Before 2010 the cafeteria account had an $80,000 surplus. Around this time the Board started to dip into this account to pay for other bills and they also started to charge the cafeteria for the use of electric, water and other expenses. These changes began to mount up and deplete the account. The Federal Mandates of 2012 did not help matters either.

The District did not work with OAPSE Local 417 and the food service employees to determine how the changes would be made. OAPSE was called into a meeting with management and were told that Milford would be taking sole charge of Food Service. The employees hours would be cut from six hours a day to two and a half hours and that they would no longer have medical or life insurance. The hours would be added on a need to add basis, but benefits would not be available.

There would also be the termination of a part-time cook. The cooks were to be notified by registered letter of these cuts. OAPSE requested that they be allowed to inform the current food service workers what the cuts would be.

It was a difficult meeting to have, with lots of discussion and tears, OAPSE decided not to OK the change in hours and to go through the grievance process. Since the first day of school, eight cooks on any given day may serve close to 1,000 students lunch on a 60 percent cut in time and preparation. Breakfast is also a meal served each day.

We have lost two full-time cooks who had a total of over 30 years of service with the district due to the fact they had to find other employment. Benefits are important to workers. The food service director from Williamsburg was hired by Milford as an assistant director, and Milford employees have had to come in and help fill hours. Milford will not have to accrue the utility expenses.

Why do businesses, schools etc., that need to make managerial changes never take care of the management problem? It is almost always the laborer who gets cut. This is becoming a scary trend in the American work place, part time hours with no benefits.

Candy Bainum
OAPSE Local 417