Chicago’s Good Food Purchasing Initiative’s Food Chain Workers’ Rights and Livelihood Manual

The Food Worker Handbook was developed in part with the Food Chain Worker Rights & Livelihood Project, which is part of the Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative (GFPI).

The Food Chain Workers’ Rights and Livelihood Project works to ensure that local food chain workers are informed about GFPI and included in creating GFPI goals and strategizing to leverage GFPI to support workplace organizing or support transitions to worker-owned models. 

Throughout 2023, key partners held workshops to conduct outreach and rights training for workers, to learn about GFPI, and to build collective power in the workplace.

Workshop themes included the history of food chain work, workers' rights, health and safety laws and regulations for the workplace, worker organizing, and advocacy. This first version of the handbook contains key information shared with workers in each workshop. The handbook will be updated as additional workshops are developed and the initiative advances. 

Documents for the Food Chain Workers' Rights and Livelihood Manual

  • This document offers a concise overview of the laws enforced by various government agencies, along with their contact details. For more detailed information, refer to the Food Chain Worker Handbook. You can view and download the checklist here .

    Information cited from Arise Chicago's Workers Rights Manual, 9/15/2023

  • Download here .

    Documents produced by Arise Chicago's Workers Rights Manual, 9/15/2023

  • This checklist provides guidance for workers filing a complaint against their employer with a government agency. You can view and download the checklist here .

Stef Funk