School meals staff strike threat recedes

by Nigel Bartlett

The threat of strike action among school meals staff in Stockport appears to have receded for the time being.

A spokesman for Stockport Metropolitan Council said the public sector union Unison had called off its ballot of kitchen staff, which had been due earlier this month. Instead, it was in negotiations with BET Catering Services over reductions in hours.

"The school meals service is continuing and remains effective, and we are watching the situation with interest," the spokesman said.

Brian Willey, BET's corporate development director, confirmed the company had been in discussions with the union and further meetings were taking place this week.

"The ballot has been postponed and we have been involved in long and detailed meetings with Unison and the staff in Stockport. Both parties are looking to settle this matter amicably," he said.

Mr Willey said the company had gone ahead with issuing a writ against the Stockport Express newspaper over its coverage of the dispute, which BET considered defamatory.

However, he was unable to give any further details as the matter was in the hands of the company lawyers.

BET has run the school meals service since June 1993. The dispute arose after it gave notice during the last school term that it intended to reduce hours for kitchen staff by an average of 15%.

Unison branch secretary Marjorie McDermott could not be contacted as Caterer went to press.

• BET Catering Services last week won a contract at the new headquarters of the Dixons Group in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. The site combines the activity of five former sites and is scheduled to open in early December.