Twenty-five people were ticketed during a protest organized by Chicago lunchroom workers who gathered in the Loop to demand better pay on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
Around 4:15 p.m., a large group of Chicago Public Schools lunchroom attendants, who call themselves the Lunch Ladies, fellow UNITE HERE Local 1 union members and community members gathered in Daley Plaza for a protest after 11 months of contract negotiations with the Chicago Board of Education. After rallying in Daley Plaza, the group joined arms and sat down in the middle of the street during rush hour.
Police said 25 people were ticketed during the action for obstruction of or interference with traffic. No arrests were made.
“The civil disobedience follows months of actions by CPS lunchroom workers to sound the alarm about the inequality they face, including informational picket lines, rallies, petition gathering, speaking out at Board of Education meetings and meeting with Chicago Alderpersons. The contract between UNITE HERE Local 1 and the Board of Education expired in June 2025,” organizers said.
Lunchroom attendants make a starting wage of $16.78 — that’s about $4 less than the starting hourly wage for custodians, or roughly $22,000 less a year, the union said.
A report released by UNITE HERE Local 1 in September 2025 revealed 22% of surveyed CPS lunchroom workers reported their families have visited food banks and nearly half said they were having trouble paying for basic necessities.
CPS addressed the protest, saying it “values our lunchroom employees’ dedication and hard work and remains committed to working closely with these important team members who ensure our students receive free and nutritious meals each day.”
Active negotiations are happening between CPS and UNITE HERE Local 1, and CPS said it hopes a mediator will help reach an agreement.
“On April 9, 2026, CPS requested the commencement of mediation regarding negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement with UNITE HERE Local 1. CPS proposed that the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) facilitate the process. On April 19, 2026, UNITE HERE Local 1 agreed to this proposal,” CPS said in a statement. “A neutral third party will help ensure that negotiations proceed productively. CPS looks forward to working with the mediator to resolve outstanding issues in the best interest of our employees and students.”
