On Thursday, lunchroom workers with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) called on the district to hire more staff, after losing 200 workers to layoffs over the summer. 

CPS lunchroom workers shifted from serving frozen, pre-plated meals to fresh foods this school year, which, they say, takes more time and requires more staff, not less.

“We have worked hard to get fresh food in the schools, but cooking food from scratch requires more workers, not fewer,” Linda Green, a lunchroom worker for over 20 years at CPS. “We are doing whatever it takes to make sure our students get fed,” said Green. “But, this isn’t sustainable. We’re doing our best, but the bottom line is that we need more staff.”

UNITE HERE conducted a survey of 500 lunchroom workers to find out how the layoffs are affecting their jobs and the students they serve. Some of the survey's findings include:

• 53% of respondents reported that the lines are longer for students this year compared to last year.
• Nearly 60% of respondents who regularly see students in line said that the last student receiving food on average has 15 minutes or less to eat before leaving the lunchroom. The USDA recommends that all students have at least 20 minutes of seated time to eat lunch.
• 59% of respondents said they had less time to clean the lunchroom this year compared to last year.
•  43% of respondents have gone an entire day without a break this school year. A further 25% of respondents have worked off the clock without pay.

On Food Day, which is a national day of action meant to show support for sustainable and healthy food, lunchroom workers rallied outside of CPS headquarters to demand that the district do something to address the shortage of lunchroom workers.