Sick Pay
Not everyone gets sick pay and this is unfair.
We do not want to make a choice between losing money and coming into work sick. We love our jobs and just want to do them properly. We just want what every other school employee has in the same school, nothing more, nothing less. It is hard to imagine that despite the millions of profits made by the multi-national company, Chartwells, they continue to cream off the profits, while their workers, low paid school meal worker like us, that bring in the money and make them the profits, are working until they drop.
We cannot afford to take time off, low paid work does not have the luxury to choose between work or sickness. It makes it all the more challenging for us. When the workloads are high, losing a days pay could mean a choice between buying a days shopping to feed our famillies or not.
It cannot be right and fair that in a civilised society, a company can expect there to be no provision for sick pay. Chartwells have not heard it right. We feel we should all be paid sick pay and not just for those of us Tuped over. Why can't we all get the same?
We do not want to make a choice between losing money and coming into work sick. We love our jobs and just want to do them properly. We just want what every other school employee has in the same school, nothing more, nothing less. It is hard to imagine that despite the millions of profits made by the multi-national company, Chartwells, they continue to cream off the profits, while their workers, low paid school meal worker like us, that bring in the money and make them the profits, are working until they drop.
We cannot afford to take time off, low paid work does not have the luxury to choose between work or sickness. It makes it all the more challenging for us. When the workloads are high, losing a days pay could mean a choice between buying a days shopping to feed our famillies or not.
It cannot be right and fair that in a civilised society, a company can expect there to be no provision for sick pay. Chartwells have not heard it right. We feel we should all be paid sick pay and not just for those of us Tuped over. Why can't we all get the same?
Pay
We are not asking for massive pay rises, just to be paid the same rate for the same job.
Recently, cooks have been offered different overtime rates for the computer Health & Safety training. We should be able to do the training during work time, but because it is so busy, we cannot. If it is work we should be paid for the time no matter how long it takes. It is not fair that across the Borough we are offered different amounts, different rates and non payment for additional hours and overtime.
Inequality and a two tier workforce are only a trickle of issues on pay that we want resolved. We should all be paid the same fair rate for the same work. Equal pay, right? We do not think it is fair that one temporary worker, on a contract, can be paid more than the supervisor.
It can be quite demeaning for one school meal worker to be paid a higher rate of pay, when their junior, with less responsibility, less workload, is paid more. We want justice!
Recently, cooks have been offered different overtime rates for the computer Health & Safety training. We should be able to do the training during work time, but because it is so busy, we cannot. If it is work we should be paid for the time no matter how long it takes. It is not fair that across the Borough we are offered different amounts, different rates and non payment for additional hours and overtime.
Inequality and a two tier workforce are only a trickle of issues on pay that we want resolved. We should all be paid the same fair rate for the same work. Equal pay, right? We do not think it is fair that one temporary worker, on a contract, can be paid more than the supervisor.
It can be quite demeaning for one school meal worker to be paid a higher rate of pay, when their junior, with less responsibility, less workload, is paid more. We want justice!
Recognition and Reward
No matter how hard we work, we are an invisible workforce.
A workforce that can work hard without pay to make sure the floors are cleaned, the tables put away and the children fed. A simple thank you and encouragement is not hard. If we work longer hours we should be paid for them. The service we provide is enjoyed and supported by the schools we work in, where their pay and conditions are recognised.
Alot of the teachers, headteachers and teaching assistant and supporting staff receive the benefits of sick pay, holiday and fair treatment at work. Alot of them support our stand to have the right pay and conditions. Alot of us want to be treated in the same way as the schools by having the respect and recognition for our work, feeding our next generation.
At meetings organised by Chartwells, we are not allowed to ask questions or speak. We just want to be respected and treated fairly.
A workforce that can work hard without pay to make sure the floors are cleaned, the tables put away and the children fed. A simple thank you and encouragement is not hard. If we work longer hours we should be paid for them. The service we provide is enjoyed and supported by the schools we work in, where their pay and conditions are recognised.
Alot of the teachers, headteachers and teaching assistant and supporting staff receive the benefits of sick pay, holiday and fair treatment at work. Alot of them support our stand to have the right pay and conditions. Alot of us want to be treated in the same way as the schools by having the respect and recognition for our work, feeding our next generation.
At meetings organised by Chartwells, we are not allowed to ask questions or speak. We just want to be respected and treated fairly.
Equipment
Sometimes we have to go out and buy cutlery for our kids as Chartwells ignore our requests for replacement forks and knives.
Often, we have to wash cutlery during the lunchtime period as there is not enough. Why is it so hard to replace lost cutlery? The cost in washing up, preparing the same cutlery twice, adds to our workloads, increases the pressure on us to deliver a healthy school meal. They would save far more time and money by investing in the appropriate amount of equipment. So we do not have to get the head teacher, through shear disgust of our treatment, driving in her own time to buy cutlery for the kitchen staff, working in her schools.
The schools are provided with the latest laptops, computers and equipment for the teaching staff to provide a professional service. It only seems fair and good practice that Chartwells provides the appropriate level of cutlery, clothing and equipment. Chartwells has to maintain a standard of health & safety in order to avoid putting at risk its workers from injury, good hygiene practice and duty of care. We want to make a stand so that we have the right tools to do our job.
Chartwells, when did you audit your kitchen for the right levels of equipment? When did you last ask your kitchen school meal workers about the replenishment of cutlery?
Often, we have to wash cutlery during the lunchtime period as there is not enough. Why is it so hard to replace lost cutlery? The cost in washing up, preparing the same cutlery twice, adds to our workloads, increases the pressure on us to deliver a healthy school meal. They would save far more time and money by investing in the appropriate amount of equipment. So we do not have to get the head teacher, through shear disgust of our treatment, driving in her own time to buy cutlery for the kitchen staff, working in her schools.
The schools are provided with the latest laptops, computers and equipment for the teaching staff to provide a professional service. It only seems fair and good practice that Chartwells provides the appropriate level of cutlery, clothing and equipment. Chartwells has to maintain a standard of health & safety in order to avoid putting at risk its workers from injury, good hygiene practice and duty of care. We want to make a stand so that we have the right tools to do our job.
Chartwells, when did you audit your kitchen for the right levels of equipment? When did you last ask your kitchen school meal workers about the replenishment of cutlery?
Family Friendly?
Our children are not allowed to study at the same school where we work.
It might not be the case for all of the workers and schools. It can make the working day all the more demanding and interfere with our own childcare issues. We cannot understand what difficulties it would present, when it would make the child and mother's childcare provision easier.
Where is the caring and investment in our staff?
It might not be the case for all of the workers and schools. It can make the working day all the more demanding and interfere with our own childcare issues. We cannot understand what difficulties it would present, when it would make the child and mother's childcare provision easier.
Where is the caring and investment in our staff?
