Senator Murray: “Food service workers do really essential work in our schools every day to make sure kids can learn during the school day. Our legislation would make sure these workers get the best training available and that they aren’t being shortchanged for their time.”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, introduced the Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act, legislation to improve training for food service employees in schools. The legislation would assist in the implementation of existing professional standards for these workers by ensuring that training occurs during work hours and at no cost, and if training is unable to occur during scheduled work hours, the bill makes clear that employees must be informed in advance and compensated appropriately. Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) are introducing companion, bipartisan legislation in the House today. Senator Murray first introduced the legislation last Congress.
“Food service workers do really essential work in our schools every day to make sure kids can learn during the school day,” said Senator Murray. “Our legislation would make sure these workers get the best training available and that they aren’t being shortchanged for their time—common-sense fixes that will help our schools recruit and maintain a professional and skilled food service workforce.”
“Nutritious meals are as important to a child’s development as learning to read,” said Rep. Pocan, “and school food service workers play a vital role in guaranteeing every child gets the healthy food they deserve. The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act will make it easier for workers to complete needed training and ensure food service workers have the skills to safely serve our kids. I’m proud to sponsor this critical bill with colleagues from across the aisle and in the Senate because good food and good jobs should be a part of 21st-century schools.”
“When our students are hungry, they can’t learn. The dedicated food service professionals who prepare and serve school meals are committed to providing all students with the healthy meals that set the stage for learning and participation, and they need appropriate training for the expertise required,” said Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association. “The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act will help ensure that our food service professionals have access to training sessions during their paid work days or are compensated if the training has to occur outside of work hours to ensure our students are getting the healthy, nutritious meals they need to thrive.”
The reauthorization of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 enacted professional standards for food service workers. These standards worked to ensure that school meals are as healthy as possible for students. The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act builds on these standards and would:
- Ensure that training sessions occur primarily during regular, paid working hours;
- Compensate workers for training sessions that must occur outside of work hours;
- Make every effort to inform workers of training sessions that must take place outside of work hours;
- Ensure that school food service workers are not penalized if they are unable to attend training sessions outside of work hours; and
- Promote in-person, hands-on training whenever possible and appropriate.
The text of the Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act is available HERE.
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