Government urged to protect school meals workers

UNISON has joined with a group of councillors from across England to call on the government to protect the jobs of school meals workers. Like so many other public service workers, these staff have risen to the challenges of the pandemic. During lockdowns they have been on site, preparing meals for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, and preparing – and even delivering – food parcels for children who receive free school meals. When schools reopened to all children in the autumn, working practices had to completely change to make sure that meals could be served safely. However, the combination of children isolating, parents not feeling schools were really safe and bubbles being sent home has meant that some schools were not serving the numbers of meals that they used to. This has meant cuts to the service – and with them, cuts to jobs, pay and hours of work. The letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson and under-secretary of state for children and families Vicky Ford explains that the predominantly female workforce is facing: cuts to hours and income; being forced onto zero-hours contracts, with no guarantee of income over the coming months; being made redundant at a time when unemployment is rising steeply. At the same time, meals staff are reporting that it is becoming harder to make nutritious meals as menus are being limited, with some private catering companies turning to cheaper ingredients. Many of the catering suppliers are private compan...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News Covid-19 school meals Source Type: news