More than 800 schools halt meal services due to ongoing staff strike

School support staff in the Honam region continued striking for a second day on Thursday, calling for better pay and working conditions, following similar walkouts in Seoul and Incheon. The strike disrupted meal services at more than 800 schools, inconveniencing students and parents.

 
A total of 4,487 school support staff across Gwangju, South Jeolla, North Jeolla and Jeju participated in the strike, according to the Ministry of Education. Of the 2,050 schools in the four regions scheduled to provide lunch, 822 — or 40.1 percent — halted meal services.

Among them, 749 schools provided substitute meals such as bread and milk. Care services were suspended at 92 out of 1,092 designated schools, or 8.4 percent.

 
One elementary school in Gwangju offered Taiwanese-style ham and cheese sandwiches, apple juice and tangerines for lunch. The school had notified parents of the substitute menu in a letter sent home on Monday.

“My child often says they’re still hungry even after eating school lunch, and the substitute meal looked too small, so I made sure they had a hearty breakfast,” said one parent.
 
“I understand they’re going through a hard time,” said another parent, “but I wish they wouldn’t take it out on the kids’ meals.”

 
The National Federation of Nonregular School Workers (translated) began a region-by-region relay strike on Thursday, demanding higher base pay, holiday bonuses, and pay during school breaks, among other improvements.

The group consists of the Public Nonregular Education Workers' Union, the Korean Women Workers Association and the School Nonregular Workers' Union. They also held protests in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Thursday and Friday.

 
On Thursday, 6,921 support staff in Seoul, Incheon, Gangwon, Sejong and North Chungcheong joined the walkout. Lunch service was halted at 1,089 schools, which accounted for one-third of all schools in those regions scheduled to provide lunch. Care services were suspended at 25 schools, or 1.6 percent.

 
Separately, around 1,200 support staff from the Gangwon chapter of the nonregular workers' union held their own two-day strike. On Friday, 406 out of 660 schools in Gangwon served substitute meals — five more than the previous day.

Source : https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-11-21/national/socialAffairs/More-than-800-schools-halt-meal-services-due-to-ongoing-staff-strike/2460362

Comprehension

Why did school support staff in the Honam region go on strike?
How many schools in the four regions halted meal services during the strike?
What types of substitute meals were provided at some schools?
How many care services were suspended out of the designated schools?
Which organizations are part of the National Federation of Nonregular School Workers?
How did parents react to the substitute meals?
How many support staff in Seoul, Incheon, Gangwon, Sejong, and North Chungcheong joined the walkout?
How did the number of schools providing substitute meals change in Gangwon during the strike?

Discussion

Do you think strikes by school support staff are justified? Why or why not?
How might strikes affect students’ learning and daily routines?
What are the pros and cons of providing substitute meals during strikes?
How should schools communicate with parents during labor disputes?
Do you think nonregular school workers are treated fairly compared to full-time staff?
How can government and school administrators address the concerns of striking staff?
Should strikes in essential services like schools be restricted? Why or why not?
How might these strikes impact public perception of the education system?
What are alternative methods for workers to demand better pay without disrupting students’ meals?
How could similar labor disputes be prevented in the future?

Vocabulary

Strike – A work stoppage by employees to demand better conditions or pay.
Support staff – Employees who provide services that help an organization run, but are not teachers or main staff.
Substitute meal – An alternative meal provided when regular services are unavailable.
Nonregular worker – An employee without permanent or full-time status.
Relay strike – A strike in which workers in different regions or departments strike one after another.
Base pay – The standard salary an employee receives before bonuses or additional benefits.
Inconveniencing – Causing difficulty or trouble for someone.
Union – An organization of workers formed to protect and advance their rights and interests.