School kitchen staff in Stirling are being balloted on whether to strike over council plans to outsource the cooking and delivery of pupils' lunches, a move they say was driven through without consultation. GMB Scotland has launched a consultative ballot of its members in primary schools across the council area, with a formal strike vote possible before councillors make a final decision in December.
The plans, approved as part of this year's council budget, would pay an external supplier to cook and deliver meals. At a full Stirling Council meeting earlier this month, a report approving the cost-cutting measures was noted following an SNP motion, and it is expected to be rubber-stamped in December amid job loss fears. Amendments by the Conservatives to pause the plans and by the Labour group to revoke them both fell.
Union claims lack of consultation
GMB Scotland says the plans are being pushed through without consultation, scrutiny, or any assurance that the quality of Stirling's award-winning school meals will be protected. A petition on Facebook has secured more than 1,200 signatures.
Dylan Ross, GMB Scotland organiser at Stirling Council, highlighted a survey of members working in school kitchens that found 100 per cent fear the standard of pupils' meals will suffer. He said: "No one understands the importance of quality school meals more than our members but their voice has been silenced in this needless rush to outsource their jobs.
"Lunch at school is the most important meal of the day for many pupils and the lack of the most basic information about these plans has dismayed staff and alarmed parents. Too many councillors seem willing to nod these plans through without scrutiny or meaningful consultation with pupils, parents, or workers."
Strike vote timeline
A week-long consultative ballot of GMB members is now underway. If workers back industrial action, it will be followed by a formal vote allowing strikes to take place before councillors' final vote on the outsourcing plans in December.
Ross said: "Our members' expertise and commitment to the wellbeing of pupils should be commended, not ignored by a council that seems to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. It is not too late for councillors to press pause and properly investigate the potential impact on our members' jobs and conditions and the risk to standards."
The threat of industrial action comes as staff claim the plans, approved as part of the 2026-27 budget and intended to save £900,000 a year, were drafted without discussion or consultation.
Council defends review
The council has held the Silver Award in the Food for Life Served Here scheme for 12 consecutive years, recognising excellence in nutritious school meals, but workers supported by Labour councillors fear outsourcing will sabotage quality. The council has said nutritional standards required for the certification would be met, with the exception that at least 75 per cent of dishes would be cooked from scratch either on site or at a local hub kitchen.
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: "Stirling Council is currently reviewing primary school meal provision as part of wider efforts to address a projected £12.25million budget gap for the 2026-27 financial year. This review forms one element of a broader package aimed at achieving necessary savings across multiple service areas.
"All changes in service provision are underpinned by ongoing engagement with staff, trade unions, and communities as we navigate the financial challenges outlined in our budget planning process. The council would like to reiterate its commitment to no compulsory redundancies, and we are currently working on a package of support for those colleagues who are affected, which includes structured retraining programmes into other roles across the council, as well as upskilling support more generally.
"We remain committed to providing high quality, nutritional school meals that meet all Scottish Government guidance."
