Labour Delivers Better Pay For School Catering Staff

Labour-run Merton Council have secured a new school meals contract, delivering healthier food for kids, better pay for staff, and consistent quality and value for money for schools.

The new school meals provider will serve over 9,000 meals to children in schools across the borough, with a renewed focus on wellbeing and sustainability. Importantly, this will continue to ensure that kids in Merton can enjoy nutritious meals that support their wellbeing and ability to learn. 

Additionally, all catering staff under this new contract will be paid the London Living Wage or higher, in line with Merton Council’s ambition that everyone in the borough can earn a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

Cllr Sally Kenny, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education said:

“Every child deserves access to healthy, high-quality food that helps them learn and thrive. This new contract means thousands of pupils across Merton will benefit from nutritious meals every day, while catering staff receive fair pay for the vital work they do. It’s a strong example of how we’re putting Labour values into practice - supporting children, families and frontline workers alike.”

This comes at a time that the national Labour Government has expanded its free school meals provisions to include all children in England whose families receive Universal credit. Nationally, this change is expected to benefit over half a million more children and lift 100,000 out of poverty - putting £500 back into parents’ pockets every year.

Across London, Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged that all primary school children will continue to receive free school meals, ensuring that children are ready to learn, and aren’t going to school hungry.

This is testament to what can we achieved when Labour are in power at local, regional, and national levels. Merton Labour will continue to work hard to deliver the best possible outcomes for children, families, and workers in Merton.