Message from GMB union posted today
GMB Union is fighting to save the jobs of
seven catering staff at Our Lady of Grace RC Junior School Dollis
Hill Lane. Jobs are under threat as a result
of the school’s decision to move from a full school meals service
to a sandwiches only service which will be available only to pupils
entitled to free school meals. The school will provide nothing at
all for other pupils.
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| No more hot meals? |
Mary Turner, GMB Branch Secretary and National
President said “The decision by the Head Teacher and the
Governors of the school is unacceptable on every level".
School staff were only made aware a
few days before the end of the school term for the summer holidays.
The employer catering contractor, ISS Catering, is seeing if it can
relocate the staff to other schools in the borough. However, some
staff will have to travel long distances from one end of the Brent
to the other if they are lucky enough to find an alternative
job.
The school has said that no decision
had been taken, but a sandwich provider turned up at the school
with samples.
The decision to provide a sandwich
only service to pupils entitled to free school meals will identify
them as children of parents on benefits and these children could
face bullying as a result. Under the previous service free school
meals pupils were integrated with those who paid for their school
meals, so nobody could be singled out.
This will come as a shock to all
parents of pupils at the school as the head teacher and governors
have failed to consult them or GMB.
GMB is calling on the school to
re-think its decision and is asking for the Diocese of Westminster
and Brent Council to intervene.”
