It was a challenging bargaining year for Nutrition Service Workers at Portland Public Schools, but in the end it was incredibly successful and will make a big difference in the lives of our members. We’re proud to announce that Portland Public Schools has agreed to a one-time payment of $1,000 to those SEIU Nutrition Services workers working in hybrid who also actively staffed meal distribution sites this school year. This win wouldn’t be possible without our members and community alike, who were absolutely dedicated to fighting this important fight for Nutrition Service Workers. When management pushed back, our members, community, and workers doubled down and fought harder to win this. Read further in SEIU and PPS’ joint statement below.

April 28, 2021 –  Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community, PPS Nutrition Services workers have played a vital role in supporting our students. They have served over 3.5 million meals since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout this time, PPS had safety protocols and policies in place to protect the safety of Nutrition Services workers and meet the needs of our community. PPS and SEIU have been in on-going discussions, both formal and informal, regarding the best way to ensure a safe working environment and recognize the unique contributions from this group of employees during this challenging time. On April 23, 2021 the parties concluded negotiations over the return to in-person instruction.

In recognition and appreciation for the dedication and work by our Nutrition Services workers in the midst of a pandemic, and acknowledging the central role Nutrition Services workers play in healthy, safe school environments, Portland Public Schools has agreed to a one-time payment of $1,000 to those SEIU Nutrition Services workers working in hybrid who also actively staffed meal distribution sites this school year.