[caption id="attachment_9599" align="alignnone" width="300"]GANG’S ALL HERE: Brockton cafeteria workers, front row from left, Lisa Mather, Karen Warren, Jean Roy and, standing, Tina Rabs are seen with Local 888 President Brenda Rodrigues and political organizer Michael Kelly at a Brockton event.[/caption]

“It’s great to have food service workers recognized for all that we do,” said Karen Warren, president of SEIU Local 888’s Brockton cafeteria workers chapter. “Yes, we cook and serve breakfast and lunch — but we’re also trained in such things as how to handle kids’ allergies, so as to keep them safe.”

“Over 1,000 of our members cook and serve food to students and veterans in dozens of communities every day,” said Local 888 President Brenda Rodrigues. “But these workers do so much more than just serve good food; they create a safe and comforting environment for all. Everyone says that, ‘Food is Love,’ and our members do a great job of serving it every day.”

Local 888 cafeteria chapters are gearing up for Food Service Workers’ Recognition Week from Oct. 15 to 18.

Local 888 leaders held a press conference Sept. 30 at the State House to kick off events. A public hearing with state legislators is set for Thurs., Oct. 17, 6 p.m., at the West Brockton Middle School, 271 West St., Brockton.

Local 888 is currently conducting a survey of its food service members about their work and job satisfaction. A summary of survey results will be shared with elected officials, school and community leaders and the general public during Food Service Workers’ Recognition Week. The survey is at: https://tinyurl.com/888survey.

For the full report on Food Service Workers’ Week, see www.seiu888.org.

To see a copy of the governor’s Food Service Workers’ Recognition Week, visit: //www.seiu888.org/cafe/ .

The Brockton chapter has 195 members whose schedule ranges from 20 hours per week to a full 40 hours. Warren works as a cafeteria manager at Brockton High School. All told, there are about 17,000 students attending the Brockton Public Schools. The system offers free breakfast and lunch to all students, under state and federal programs.

The state, municipal and school food service workers in Massachusetts are dedicated to serving the children in our schools, clients in their homes, and patients and veterans in hospitals and nursing facilities. These workers deliver healthy, high-quality food. They also use their expertise to take care of those with food allergies and special dietary needs.

Service Employees International Union Local 888 unites food service workers in the following school districts: Andover, Blue Hills Regional, Brockton, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Groton-Dunstable Regional, Haverhill, Hopkinton, Lawrence, Malden, Marlborough, Medford, Millbury, Oxford, Quincy, Randolph, Scituate, Shrewsbury, Tantasqua Regional, Watertown, Weymouth, Winthrop and Woburn. Local 888 members also work in food service at the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers Homes. To learn more about Local 888, visit //www.seiu888.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/SEIULocal888/.