Chartwells clashes with dinner ladies
08 January 2001
Chartwells, the education arm of Compass, is hoping to resolve an industrial dispute with dinner ladies in the borough of Sandwell, West Midlands, at a meeting on Wednesday.
Around 200 members of the trade union Unison last week voted for limited industrial action starting this week over plans to reduce working hours in 23 schools.
The action began today and involved a refusal to cover for absent colleagues or work anything but normal hours.
A spokeswoman for Chartwells said talks with Unison had led to a revised proposal being put to the workforce yesterday, which Chartwells understood would be recommended for acceptance by Unison.
The spokeswoman said the work-to-rule had caused no disruption to school meals.
