Riverhead School District Workers Demand Fair Pay and Benefits

Non-instructional employees in the Riverhead Central School District are calling for improved salaries and benefits as contract negotiations with the district are underway. The workers, represented by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Unit 8792, include custodians, food service workers, special education aides, technical support aides, security guards, bus drivers, safety monitors, and clerical staff.

Why this matters: The struggle for fair compensation and benefits among non-instructional school employees reflects a broader issue of undervaluingessential workers in the education sector. If left unaddressed, it could lead to a decline in morale, increased turnover rates, and ultimately, a negative impact on the quality of education provided to students.

The current contract, which began on July 1, 2019, and expires on June 30, 2024, has raised concerns among employees about pay disparities between new hires and long-term staff. Bonnie Cain, a cook in the school's food service department, earns an estimated $27,000 annually and says, "We are barely over minimum wage... Something has to change, and the cost of living is going up, hopefully our pay will too."

Other employees echo similar sentiments. Linda Donagher, a technical support aide, notes that her salary does not reflect her increased responsibilities, which include preparing and distributing over 5,000 devices to students across the district. Kim Kehoe, a head custodian, reports that morale among custodial staff is at an all-time low, making it difficult to retain employees as living costs rise.

The workers' demands for fair compensation come amid a significant increase in workload. Food service workers, for example, received only a 19-cent hourly pay raise from $18.67 in 2021-22 to $19.04 in 2022-23, despite the number of meals served increasing by more than 100,000 during that period. Technical support aides at the entry level earn roughly $26,722 per year, while those at the highest level earn nearly $35,259 annually, still below the typical range of $33,120 to $54,528 for the position in Suffolk County.

As contract negotiations continue, the approximately 375 non-instructional employees represented by CSEA Unit 8792 are urging the Riverhead Central School District to address their concerns over fair pay, affordable health care, and adequate compensation for theircontributionsto the district's success. The outcome of these negotiations will have a significant impact on the livelihoods of these essential workers and the overall functioning of the school district.

Key Takeaways

• Non-instructional employees in Riverhead Central School District demand better pay and benefits.
• Current contract raises concerns about pay disparities between new hires and long-term staff.
• Employees earn low wages, e.g., $27,000/year for a cook, and $26,722/year for technical support aides.
• Workload has increased, but pay has not kept pace, e.g., 19-cent hourly raise for food service workers.
• Negotiations will impact 375 employees' livelihoods and the school district's overall functioning.