Seattle union forces church to stop distributing free pizza during school lunch
National School Lunch Program, School Lunch Software May 26, 2016, 0 CommentA Seattle church was forced to stop giving away pizza at lunchtime, after a union representing the school district’s cafeteria workers complained that it hurt business.
Members of the Bethany Community Church in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood have been handing out free slices of pizza once a week just off campus at the Nathan Hale, Ingraham and Roosevelt high schools, a local ABC News affiliate reported.
Youth pastor Nick Steinloski estimated that the church spends $600 a week on pizza since they started the practice last fall.
“We are not telling them a Bible story before they get pizza,” he insisted.
A spokeswoman for the Seattle School Districts told ABC News that it was “OK” with the church’s mission, but a union representative recently left a voicemail with the church saying it was costing people their jobs.
Dave Westberg, the union’s business manager, confirmed to ABC News that he complained to the church. He said the union estimated the pizza giveaway is costing the district 500 purchased meals each week — equal to 20 labor hours.
Leave a comment