Unite press release / calling notice

What: Unite activists & supportive councillors welcome council decision to write off school meal debt.

Where: Thursday 30 March 10.30 am -11.00 am outside Glasgow City Chambers

Unite pressure spurs Glasgow City council to write-off school meal debt

Activists from Unite for a Workers’ Economy and councillors who have supported the ‘Feed the Weans’ campaign will stage a group photo opportunity outside Glasgow City Chambers.

Glasgow City Council is expected to back a motion to write-off school meal debt across Glasgow this Thursday (30 March). But there is still more work to be done to end the scourge of school hunger.

Unite Organiser Claire Peden said: “Unite’s campaign to ‘feed the weans’ has spurred councillors into action to write off school meals debt. Unite has been working with parents across Glasgow to build support across the city. Our grassroots activism has paid off but there’s more work to be done.

“Unite for a Workers’ Economy will continue its campaign to end means based ‘free’ school meals and to provide school dinners for all children up to P7.

“With 24% of Glasgow residents reporting they live in moderate to severe food poverty, it’s critical to ensure children are fed in the most important years of their lives.”

Unite pressure alongside the support of cross party Glasgow City councillors has been at the heart of the campaign to write-off the debt (see notes to editors).

However, councils and the Scottish Government have yet to put provisions in place to ensure that no child has to go hungry during the school day.

Unite for a workers’ economy will continue its campaign to end  means-based ‘free’ school meals and to provide free school dinners for all children up to P7. Rising costs mean an increasing number of families who are not entitled to these school meals can no longer make ends meet.

ENDS

Christine Cannon SNP has submitted a ‘Feed the Weans’ motion that has cross-party support. The council will look to write off school meal debt across Glasgow covering both Primary and Secondary schools.

From workplace to community Unite is driving a UK-wide strategy to help bring change to ‘‎‎‎‎heartland’ ‎‎‎‎communities following the failure of politicians to act. ‘‎‎‎‎Unite for a Workers' Economy’‎‎‎‎ has begun with a major national campaign across key battle-ground seats up and down the UK, including Glasgow, Grimsby, Hull, Leigh, Barrow, Workington, Morecombe and Crawley.


For more information please contact Claire Peden on 07815 704 914 or Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315 

Email: Ci[email protected]

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Web: unitetheunion.org 

Unite is the leading union in the UK and Ireland, dedicated to defending and improving members' jobs, pay and conditions. The general secretary is Sharon Graham