Unionized food service workers at Minneapolis Public Schools voted Wednesday to authorize a strike.
The strike authorization garnered 98.5 percent support from the food service employees, who have been working under an expired contract for two years, according to statement issued by SEIU Local 284, which represents them.
The move comes as teachers in the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts are also preparing to strike. The unions representing educators in both districts gave notice Feb. 23 that they intend to strike on March 8 if they do not reach agreements with district officials.
The Minneapolis food service workers would also have to file a 10-day intent-to-strike notice before beginning a work stoppage.
The workers, who serve meals to Minneapolis Public Schools students, make between $10,000 and $28,000 working 30-35 hours a week during the school year, their news release said. The union has proposed an annual wage increase of $1 an hour each year of the new contract.