Avon calls time on 130 jobs

Avon's school meals direct service organisation (DSO) is to cut up to 130 jobs under plans aimed at reducing costs.

About 30 cooks and 100 catering assistant posts are to disappear under the plan, while a further 500 staff will have their hours reduced.

A total of 2,000 people are employed by the DSO, Avon County Catering Service, which in August beat off contract caterer BET Catering Services to gain a second four-year term.

General manager Clive Woolley was reluctant to discuss the job cuts in detail because they were still subject to negotiation. However, he said they were a result of the council reducing the budget for school meals from £12m a year to £9m.

"We've had to introduce efficiency measures, such as pre-prepared meals, but different schools will be affected in different ways. Some will gain posts under our plan," Mr Woolley told Caterer.

The council is due to discuss the proposals next Monday.