Trade union's anger over cuts at catering firm working in Wigan schools

Unison is warning Dolce against plans to cut hours and pay rates of its school kitchen staff.

The business works in nine areas across the north of England including Wigan and contacted staff last week to announce changes to their employment contracts.

The trade union says school kitchen employees face cuts in their working hours and salaries of up to 20 per cent and could end up on zero-hours contracts.

This, Unison says, will leave some Dolce staff struggling to make ends meet as their incomes could be hit by more than £300 a month.

Unison is now writing to headteachers to outline its concerns about the firm being potentially unable to provide a full catering service.

Dolce has said the cuts are being made on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trade union is now urging the company to enter into discussions with it before the planned implementation date for the changes on November 1.

Unison also said staff affected should not agree to the altered contracts and should instead submit grievances with Dolce.

Unison North West schools organiser Keith Bradley said: “School catering staff have put themselves at risk to ensure that schoolchildren remain well-fed throughout the pandemic.

“It is outrageous that Dolce would reward them by imposing a significant cut to hours and pay at short notice and without meaningful consultation.

“Whilst Dolce have cited reduction in demand for school meals and cuts to funding as the justification for their callous cuts, we understand that the company has fully-funded contracts with many schools.

“According to Dolce’s recent accounts, they paid a whopping £138,000 in dividends to their owners. As the company is family-owned, these bumper payments all went to one family.

“All while proposing this callous cut to the income of the families pay cuts of 20 per cent for the front-line staff who serve children their school meals.”