Public school workers and the Philadelphia Joint Board of Workers United/SEIU called on the mayor and city council to investigate potential wage and hour violations that could total $4.3 million in back pay by the end of this school year. Most of the 2,300 food service workers and noon time aides that keep the city's school children healthy and safe earn well below the minimum pay set by the Philadelphia 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard. The law, enacted in 2005, requires the city to pay municipal workers and contractors 150 percent of the federal minimum wage.

"We feed Philly's kids, but barely earn enough to buy groceries, pay bills and make rent," said Claudette Honer, a Philadelphia Food Service worker. "I'm glad the PJB [Philadelphia Joint Board] Workers United and SEIU are standing up with us and making sure we get paid what we ought to be paid."

On average under their Unite Here Local 634 contract, Philadelphia school food service workers and noon time aides make $9.52 an hour, which is $1.36 below the minimum pay set by the Philadelphia standard. Some workers make $1.60 less than required. The Philadelphia Joint Board, Workers United estimates that the School District may owe $2.2 million to approximately 1,900 employees for hours worked from 2007-2009 and could owe an additional $2.1 million by the end of this school year if workers wages are not raised to the Philadelphia minimum wage standard.

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