[Salem] - Portland Public School District parents, teachers and community supporters rallied Monday, November 19 at 6:00 pm in front of the BESC Building – 501 N. Dixon in Portland – calling for safe and healthy schools. A school board meeting was scheduled for 7:00 pm at this location.

“Food service workers’ jobs could be outsourced. Custodians are facing up to a 30% cut in pay,” explains Dave Schleiger, a custodian at Sitton Elementary School. “A stable and dedicated workforce is integral to a safe, secure and healthy learning environment for Portland’s school children.”

At the last several meetings, the Portland School Board has heard from teachers, parents and workers about the value of the work done by custodians and food service workers and the integral part they play in the school community.

“Parents want skilled, experienced food service workers and custodians, and want them paid appropriately. The District’s proposed pay cut is anti-worker and would damage the effort to keep living wage jobs in Portland,” stated Nancy Smith. Nancy has children at Jefferson and Woodlawn and is PTSA President.

While continuing their focus on keeping our schools running smoothly and efficiently, PPS custodians and food service workers are fighting for livable wages, health care for their families, and job security.

“Treating workers fairly, with dignity and respect are lessons that should be taught by example,” says Ellen Hagen, who takes care of the nutritional needs of children at Arleta Elementary. “We need a secure future. A future safe from having our jobs outsourced.”

SEIU Local 503 represents 45,000 public sector, homecare, child care, local government, nursing home, adult foster care and private non-profit health care workers in Oregon.