Help our Barnet Schools Kosher Kitchen Workers
Donation protected
Kosher Catering Service Workers without jobs or funds for basics like food, rent and bills during the worst economic conditions for over 70 years
Help raise £250 for each of the 41 workers. All donations, whatever size, help us to this goal!
Background
The Kosher Kitchen Service was outsourced by Barnet Council in 2016 to ISS and then subsequently these staff were TUPED (passed on to new employers on same terms and conditions) to Signature Education (2021/2022) and then to London Kosher Caterer on 1 March 2023.
The Kosher Kitchen Service used to provide a service for the following schools:
Hasmonean Primary School, Beis Yaakov Primary School, Pardes House Primary School, Menorah Primary School, Sacks Morasha Primary School, Rimon Primary School, Mathilda Marks Kennedy, Beit Shvidler Primary School, Nancy Reuben, Etz Chaim, IJDS, Menorah Foundation, Hasmonean High School MAT (2 schools), Kosher CPU.
When were the staff sacked?
Kosher Kitchen catering service, after decades of providing school meals, was closed on Friday 5 May 2023.
41 catering workers were asked to attend a meeting at short notice where they were informed that the service was closing that day.
The reason given for issuing redundancy was “insolvency.”
The workers had no idea that their jobs were at risk.
What is happening to the staff?
As from 5 May they have no money. When there is a redundancy in an organisation there will be a consultation and if the redundancy goes ahead the workforce will receive their redundancy pay and their notice pay.
As their employer was made insolvent, they had no warning and no notice pay.
The staff must go online to claim their redundancy pay. This is proving difficult for many of the workforce not familiar with applying online.
Their claim for redundancy is further complicated because there are outstanding financial issues unresolved for this workforce before they were sacked including:
- Pension issues.
- Outstanding Pay issues
- Not paid the current London Living Wage
This is the worst cost of living crisis in 76 years and low paid workers are disproportionately impacted. This has had a devastating impact on their lives.
Read more here:
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2023/05/31/update-on-the-barnet-41-kosher-catering-service-workers/
No job. No money. Weeks to wait for help of any kind. Please give what you can.
Read our full statement here https://linktr.ee/barnetfood
Right to Food, Barnet
Charli Thompson
Holly KAL weiss
Organizer
Right To Food Barnet
Organizer
England
