Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth Signs Letter of Support for Fair Compensation of CPS Lunchworkers
Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth signed onto a letter urging the CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to provide better pay, adequate staffing, and improved overall working conditions for lunch workers who are currently the lowest paid employee group within CPS. Despite the magnitude and importance of this responsibility, staffing has been reduced significantly over time, placing an increased burden on the remaining workers. The result is increased stress, longer hours, and unsustainable workloads. Students deserve fresh, nutritious meals prepared with care, not the bare minimum made possible by chronic understaffing. Fair compensation is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Investing in these workers is an investment in the health, dignity, and success of Chicago’s students. Read the full letter below.
April 29th, 2026
Subject: CPS Lunch Workers Fair Compensation
To: Dr. Macquline King, Chicago Public Schools CEO
We are writing this letter to urge you to support immediate action to secure better pay, adequate staffing, and improved overall working conditions for the Chicago Public Schools lunch workers. These workers are essential to the health, safety, and overall success of CPS students, yet they continue to struggle under wages and conditions that do not reflect the importance of their work.
The majority of these workers, 72.4 percent, earn no more than $18.72 per hour, with an average annual income of approximately $23,000 per year. This makes them the lowest paid employees within CPS, earning nearly $20,000 less annually than the next employee group, custodial and janitorial workers. Many report that they struggle to cover the rising costs of housing, food, healthcare, childcare, and transportation. For workers who dedicate themselves daily to feeding the children of this city, it is unacceptable that they must worry about whether their own families will go without.
Every school day, CPS lunch workers prepare approximately 275,000 meals for more than 375,000 students. They are responsible not only for preparing and serving food, but also for maintaining safe and sanitary kitchen environments, accommodating dietary restrictions, and ensuring compliance with nutritional standards. They are often the first adults students see each day and play a vital role in creating a welcoming and supportive school environment.
Despite the magnitude and importance of this responsibility, positions in the field have been drastically reduced over time. Lunch assistant positions have decreased by 38.5 percent, and approximately 250 vacant kitchen positions have been eliminated. This reduction in staffing places an increased burden on the remaining workers, leaving fewer hands available to assist with cooking, serving, cleaning, inventory, and compliance duties. The result is increased stress, longer hours, and unsustainable workloads.
These cuts do not only harm the workers, they negatively impact students as well. With a reduced labor force, schools are often forced to rely on more simplified meal options and fewer hot meals. Students deserve fresh, nutritious meals prepared with care, not the bare minimum made possible by chronic understaffing.
For the past seven months, these workers have continued to diligently provide meals to the children of this city despite operating without a renewed contract with CPS. They have shown commitment, professionalism, and dedication even in the face of uncertainty. They take pride in the work they do and in the role they play in supporting Chicago’s youth. However, pride alone does not pay rent, cover medical bills, or provide stability for their families.
We are calling for a minimum annual salary of $40,000 for all CPS lunch workers, along with meaningful staffing commitments that ensure safe and sustainable working conditions. Fair compensation is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Investing in these workers is an investment in the health, dignity, and success of Chicago’s students.
We urge you to stand with CPS lunch workers and take immediate action to ensure they receive the respect, pay, and working conditions they deserve. For anyone who would like to learn more please feel free to reach out to Patrick Griffin, at pgriffin@unitehere1.org.
Signed by the following;
Daniel La Spata - 1st Ward Alderman
Brian Hopkins - 2nd Ward Alderman
Desmon Yancy - 5th Ward Alderman
William Hall - 6th Ward Alderman
Peter Chico - 10th Ward Alderman
Julia Ramirez - 12th Ward Alderwoman
Marty Quinn - 13th Ward Alderman
Jeylu B. Gutierrez - 14th Ward Alderwoman
David Moore - 17th Ward Alderman
Jeanette B. Taylor - 20th Ward Alderwoman
Ronnie Mosley - 21st Ward Alderman
Mike Rodriguez - 22nd Ward Alderman
Silvana Tabares - 23rd Ward Alderwoman
Byron Sigcho-Lopez - 25th Ward Alderman
Jessie Fuentes - 26th Ward Alderperson
Walter R. Burnett - 27th Ward Alderman
Chris Taliaferro - 29th Ward Alderman
Ruth Cruz - 30th Ward Alderwoman
Felix Cardona Jr. - 31st Ward Alderman
Scott Waguespack - 32nd Ward Alderman
Anthony Quezada - 35th Ward Alderman
Gilbert Villegas - 36th Ward Alderman
Andre Vasquez - 40th Ward Alderman
Timmy Knudsen - 43rd Ward Alderman
James Gardiner - 45th Ward Alderman
Matt Martin - 47th Ward Alderman
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth - 48th Ward Alderwoman
