Thousands of food service workers in schools across the country work proudly day in and day out to prepare and serve nutritious breakfasts and lunches for the nation's school children. School cafeteria workers are among those on the front lines of America's efforts to increase the nutritional quality of school meals and to reduce hunger among millions of America's children.

But while school meals are among the country's strongest anti-poverty programs, but K-12 school food service workers are the lowest paid workers in our children's schools. Within this poorly compensated group, outsourced food service workers make even less in wages than those directly employed by school districts, with many of these workers earning as little as minimum wage. Yet food service workers are the front-line caregivers in one of our country's most effective anti-hunger programs.

Many school food service workers do not have affordable health insurance or even paid sick days, which forces them to choose between losing a day's pay and coming to work sick. Not only is it often unaffordable for low-wage food service workers to stay home to avoid handling children's food while sick, but when they do try to call in they are often discouraged from staying home by their supervisors.

Our children depend on a stable and well-trained workforce to prepare and serve meals that are healthy, safe and nutritious. By failing to provide adequate training, and wages and benefits commensurate with the responsibilities and contributions front line food service workers make, we foster a work environment that produces high turnover, poor morale, and inconsistent service.

Sign our petition to raise standards for good wages, better healthcare, sick days, and better training.