Composite R (Covering Motions 98 & 100 and Amended Motion 99)
Adult Hunger, the Right to Food, and Free School Meals
‘‘That this Congress notes that in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, workers are still struggling to survive. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Poverty in Scotland 2023 just over 10% of workers in Scotland are locked in persistent low pay and 72% of them are women.
“There has been a huge increase in the number of working people relying on foodbanks and trade union reps are aware of colleagues who go hungry on a regular basis. BFAWU’s ‘Foodworkers on the breadline’ report outlines the impact of the cost of living crisis on workers.
“Congress notes that food inflation in recent years has been significantly higher than either CPI or RPI and that this has had a significant impact on the poorest in society increasing the incidences of hunger and malnourishment. According to the Trussell Trust’s Hunger in Scotland 2023 report, around 17 % of adults in Scotland, ie 1.2 million people, experience food insecurity. Working age adults are much more likely to turn to a food bank than pensioners. 16% of people referred to a food bank live in a working household.
‘‘Congress agrees that it is disappointing that despite the Right to Food campaign being run for some time now, many councils still haven’t yet passed motions around the right to food, and nourishing food at that.
‘‘Congress further agrees that trade unions and most politicians understand the difference ‘Free School Meals for All’ would make for a generation of children. They have demonstrated commitment to this change, more of the same is required. Some MPs and Peers have already backed the ‘Free School Meals for All’ Bill.
‘‘Congress urges the Scottish Government to ensure that all nursery children, primary children and all young people at Secondary school get a free school dinner. We are all aware that this is often the only hot meal some children have in any day. Across the country, many politicians are showing us what’s possible.
‘‘In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan’s emergency scheme is funding free school dinners for all primary school pupils through the 2023/24 academic year. In Wales, the devolved government will finish rolling out free school meals to all primary school children by 2024.
“Free breakfast clubs for all are important but they are not enough. School dinners are an essential part of education, they bridge the day and give children the nutrition and fuel to learn. That’s why parents, educators, dieticians, dentists, doctors and school nurses are behind this demand too.
‘Free School Meals for All’ is good for children, good for families and will make our school communities stronger. We know that it is time for this policy to be implemented and extended to include all young people from Nursery to the end of Secondary.
‘‘Congress notes the campaigning work done by a number of organisations on free school meals, particularly the STUC’s Women’s Committee.
"Congress calls upon the STUC General Council to:
- highlight the growing incidence of adult, as well as child, hunger;
- call on governments, academics, and civil society to explore how hunger could be eradicated, including considering Right to Food legislation, food price controls, subsidised workplace restaurants, and learning from historical and international experience;
- ensure issues of hunger be integrated into the continued evolution of the STUC Cost-of-Living political education course;
- raise awareness of the STUC Cost of Living Course amongst the poverty campaign groups that the STUC work with;
- support the Right to Food campaign, help facilitate and support Fans Supporting Foodbanks, and champion the NEU universal free school dinners campaign;
- ask that all affiliates exert maximum pressure on all political parties in the Scottish Parliament to ensure that ‘Free School meals for All’ is implemented and extended to include all young people from Nursery to the end of Secondary within the shortest possible timescale.’’
Mover: South Lanarkshire Trades Union Council
Seconder: East Ayrshire Trades Union Council
Supporter: Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union
RSS