GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford County Schools nutrition employees returned to work Wednesday after a two-day walkout.

More than 200 employees voiced their frustration about their low wages outside of the GCS building. 

“You feel like you have no respect,” Angela Rorie, a cafeteria employee, said about her hourly pay. “You feel like you’re not being treated fair. Would they want to work the number of years I work and have the same pay and having a new employee come in and make the same amount of money that I make with the years I have?”

Hunter Elementary School cafeteria manager Ahmad Haamid said the reason they weren’t at work Monday and Tuesday is because the employees work hard for the students and deserved to be compensated for it. 

Another manager mentioned because they were left out of the state budget when it was being negotiated, they had to advocate for themselves. 

“Not only am I fighting for myself, I’m fighting for my staff to get those wages up there so they can definitely live a comfortable life so they don’t have to worry about working two to three jobs when they leave Guilford County Schools,” said Cynthia Huntley, the cafeteria manager for Montlieu Academy of Technology.

Guilford County Schools nutrition workers want to be paid more for their services. (Spectrum News 1)

The district released a statement regarding the plan for a 4% rate increase for school nutrition assistants and a 7% rate increase for school nutrition managers. 

“In addition to the rate increase, school nutrition managers will receive a quarterly bonus by increasing the number of meals served. This bonus is separate and in addition to the rate increase described above,” the statement said. 

Additionally, GCS Superintendent Whitney Oakley will launch an advisory council for school nutrition employees for ongoing discussions and feedback on how to improve services to students.