Union preparing to protest against North Tyneside Council school dinner move

The GMB Union has said it has confirmed a protest following a North Tyneside Council decision regarding school meals.

The Council has confirmed it will pull its catering provision to more than 40 schools, after being left facing a £3 million annual loss in the service.

The GMB union called the decision a “disgrace” and announced plans to protest outside the local authority headquarters in January, claiming that staff were “up in arms”.

The local authority will withdraw from school catering from 31 March 2024. 

The union has claimed the move will hit hundreds of already low-paid workers, from cutting their hours, to affecting pay rises and pensions. 

GMB Union will stage a protest outside North Tyneside Council headquarters on Monday, January 15 and Thursday, January 18, as the financial scrutiny committee and full council meet. 

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Stuart Gilhespy, GMB Organiser, said: “GMB members are up in arms - they don’t want to leave council employment. 

“When private companies have taken over public contracts elsewhere in North Tyneside, the first thing they squeeze is workers' pay, terms and conditions. 

“The council is trying to save money by reducing services to some of the most vulnerable people in society. 

“This decision is a disgrace and GMB will fight it all the way. No one should make a profit from providing food to children.”