S-T-R-I-K-E (Teachers)

A whole summer has passed. How quickly they go. But...... we are not yet back to serving lunches. Our teachers are on strike! And, it doesn't look like we will be back to work anytime soon. What a "pickle" for food service. We didn't know until the day before school was to start, whether there would be school or not. Produce, refrigerator items, and everything necessary for the first two weeks, had to be bought in, just in case school was a go. Now, the task of throwing out what wouldn't last has to be done.

I totally support the teachers and believe in the right to strike. But what a year it will be. Hardly any days off for 180 days, plus working into late June or worse. This will really mess us up for those of us that have summer jobs. Plus many of us make plans for vacations as soon as school is done. Don't be surprised if you see many new faces in your cafeteria. When we get the school calendar for the following school year, we use the days off(Act 80, teacher in-service days, and extra days off for holidays)for doctors appointments, mini-vacations, family things and whatever. Now we will have to have subs in for those days.

We always joke and whine during the school year about how "hard it is to have two or three full weeks of school with no weekdays off". We will really be whining this year.

Believe me, it is lovely being off this time of the year. The air is a little cooler
places are less crowded, and I am loving every moment of it. I have picked up some hours at my other job, which I am very grateful for. I can work any hours I want, and I get to sit at a desk all day. However, I am finding out that as nice as it is, I am not really a "sit at a desk person" anymore. Being off has made me appreciate my job ever more than I have already. I realize that I love the fast pace at school and the interaction with the kids. I do really miss the kids.

Its funny that all summer long, I hardly talked to anybody (managers from school)but now I am talking to them a few times a week via phone. Today we had 10 people, managers and staff, get together for a nice lunch and shopping. We are planning another shopping trip to Lancaster next week, as long as we are still not working. Many of us realized that since we were in the mode to get back to work, we have found ourselves working on projects, extra cleaning and getting more done than we did all summer.

Who knows what this year will hold. Hopefully a healthy year for me and my staff.
I hope the teachers get what they want. I admit that my benefits are what the teachers benefits are so I hope that the cost and quality of our benefits are not compromised.

I hope to be back at work soon even though I am making great money at my other job. But for all the others who have no other job to go to, I hope it ends soon.

All is well.