PofoliaShared via Pofolia

Labor Studies Journal· 2026Q1

Dishing Out Public Goods: School Food Workers and the Struggle to (Re)value Reproductive Labor

Sara Gia Trongone, Jennifer E. Gaddis, Beth Katz, Reece Lyerly

Short summary

Despite expanded access to free meals and scratch cooking in US school food programs, school food workers (SFWs) have experienced minimal improvements in working conditions.

AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.

Key points

  • US school food programs have expanded free meals and scratch cooking, but worker conditions remain poor.
  • Focus group data from the Understanding the School Food Workforce Study (2024–2025) analyzes the devaluation of SFWs.
  • Strategies for revaluing SFWs' reproductive labor are explored.
  • A Colorado union local successfully used collective bargaining and ballot initiatives to improve worker conditions and the food system.

AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.

Abstract

Government-funded school food programs in the USA have recently expanded access to free meals and incorporated more scratch cooking with local ingredients, but school food workers (SFWs) have seen little-to-no improvement in their working conditions. Using focus group data from the national Understanding the School Food Workforce Study (2024–2025), we analyze the structural devaluation of SFWs and explore strategies for revaluing their reproductive labor. Lastly, we provide a case study of a Colorado union local that used collective bargaining and ballot initiatives to improve their working conditions and reshape the state's school food system for the common good.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Labor Studies Journal, 2026 · DOI ↗

TakeawaysPremium
Ask the paperFree account

Continue with a free account

Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.

Continue free on the web

Sign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.

On your phone:

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store

Field: Public Administration

Public AdministrationSocial Sciences