A group of cafeteria workers from six of Princeton’s public schools braved the cold this morning to hold a rally protesting changing terms of employment by Nutri-Serve, the company hired last June to manage the district’s food service program.

The workers went on strike at 6:30 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. Lower wages and benefits are the cause of the strike, which was initiated as a last resort after negotiations failed. Cafeteria workers say they were not informed of changes in their working conditions or terms, and the union for the workers says it is unfair for a new contractor to take over without telling workers of changes or negotiating in good faith with the union.

Parents had pushed for the company because of its emphasis on healthy food choices. Nutri-Serve has eliminated paid sick days, jury duty, and holidays, and cut planned wage increases in half. The company has said it needed to make the cuts because of rising costs.